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THE STRAIGHT UP
November 2018
You Can’t Take ItWith You How We Find What We’re Truly Thankful For
things I didn’t need, I felt better. I was tired of having all this stuff following me around, like a monkey on my back. Freeing myself from it was, well, freeing! I wanted to clear out everything until all my stuff could fit in a duffel bag and I could just go. There are things we buy because we need them, and then there are things we buy because we think they will make us happy. Sometimes an object does bring us joy, but more often than not, the happiness we get from a thing fades. Then we’re just left with a bunch of stuff that we have to haul around until we get rid of it one day. And if we don’t get rid of it, our kids will have to. At one point in time, I had five sets of china all stuffed into my china cabinet. My grandparents had barely used their china and left it all to me when they passed. It was all beautiful, but I had no use for even a single set of china, let alone five! I kept it around for years, trying to sell it all at one point, but no one wanted it. I finally donated it all, because, no matter how pretty it was, you come to realize it’s all junk. I don’t mean everything we leave behind for our kids or grandkids is junk that will end up at Goodwill. When my grandmother passed away, she left me her diamond ring. This wasn’t her engagement ring —my grandfather couldn't afford something so
I am an involuntary minimalist. This comes from being married to my husband. All my life, I was a somewhat messy person with a lot of stuff. Meanwhile, Kirk has always been super tidy and doesn’t like having stuff everywhere. After 20 years, he wore me down until something unbelievable happened: I had fun getting rid of my clothes! When we moved a few years ago, we downsized and got rid of a bunch of stuff. My biggest challenge was cleaning out my closet. In our old house, I had a big closet all to myself, full of clothes for every occasion. After I finished going through it, my floor was covered in clothing and the closet was still full! Six months later, I purged my closet again, finding even more things I hadn’t worn in years. I swear, it was like a clown car of clothes. I purged the closet two more times, and I realized that each time I got rid of something, it was like a weight was being lifted frommy shoulders. Some stuff weighs us down as much as it brings us joy. Each time I got rid of “THE STUFF FILLING UP OUR DRAWERS IS NEVER WHAT WE’RE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR IN LIFE; INSTEAD, IT’S THE PEOPLE WE LOVE.”
nice when they got married — but a ring Granddad bought her 10 years after they got married. I took the ring along with some other old jewelry, and I had it made into a brand- new ring. I love my ring, not because of the diamonds, but because of the stories I have frommy grandparents. AroundThanksgiving, we talk a lot about gratitude. The stuff filling up our drawers is never what we’re truly grateful for in life; instead, it’s the people we love. The relationships and memories we have with each other are what give us the most joy in life. Research by Dr. Thomas Gilovich, a professor of psychology at Cornell University, shows that experiences give us greater joy in the long run than stuff. A new car is old in six months, but adventures in Europe or holiday dinners with your family hold their value forever. The stories we share and our relationships with the people we love are the most valuable things in life. Everything else is just baggage. So why not spend more time with the people
we love and less time gathering stuff? –Dr. Leslie Pitner
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A Quick Workout
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THE THANKSGIVING FEAST
While in your squat stance, there are several things you can do. For 30-second intervals, put your arms out in a “T” formation
side dishes just right, or about your in-laws, who will soon be seated at your table.
To start off, you’ll need to warm up. Keeping the oven in sight and the timer well within earshot, take a few minutes to loosen up your muscles. Jog in place, do some jumping jacks for a minute, or jump in place for 45 seconds. Warmups often consist of these basic exercises, but one set of each won’t be enough. To make sure your body is completely warmed up, repeat each set at least three times. pushups, plank crawls, and holding a squat stance are easy exercises you can do in your kitchen, dining room, or living room while your feast cooks. Do each exercise as many times as you can in a minute, and just like you did in the warmup, repeat each set three times. After you’ve warmed up, it's time to start the workout. Squat jumps, ski jumps,
and move them up and down in small pulses. Then move your arms out in front of you and return to the “T” shape. Raise your arms up over your head and clap, and then return once more to the “T” formation. Rotate your arms in backward circles, switch to forward arm circles, and finish up by holding your squat for an additional 30 seconds. This 30-minute exercise routine is great for before, during, and after your Thanksgiving meal prep.You don’t have
When you’re in the kitchen cooking your signature dishes for Thanksgiving dinner, you might find yourself with short periods of nothing to do. While you wait, why not fit in a quick workout? Exercising for 30 minutes will help ease any anxieties you may have —
to wait around all day for things to finish up — occupy your downtime with short exercises to keep your heart pumping.
perhaps about getting those
FROM THE OFFICE OF BUSTER
Got Braces? Avoid These Thanksgiving Favorites!
wearing braces. Again, this hard food can damage your wires with a single bite.There is good news though:You are still free to have all the pumpkin pie you want!
Turkey Legs I have never eaten a turkey leg before, because cooked poultry bones are brittle and can really hurt dogs if they eat them. However, they sure
G’DAY, MATE!
Thanksgiving is in just a fewweeks, and I am so excited! I just love all the wonderful smells. And while I know dogs really shouldn’t eat table scraps —nomatter howmuch we beg— that doesn't stopme fromwishing I could have just a bite. I’m sure a lot of our patients who wear braces feel the same way, especially when you look at howmany favoriteThanksgiving foods are bad for your braces! Corn on theCob
sound like the best part of aThanksgiving feast. I understand why patients with braces might be devastated to hear they should let their brother have the turkey leg instead. Eating a slice of turkey is all right, but it’s really easy to snag a bracket or wire on the edge of the bone when biting down on a big turkey leg. Pecan Pie
There are plenty of otherThanksgiving treats you can enjoy with your braces, likemashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and rolls! But it would certainly be easier to enjoy all the holiday treats if you didn’t have to wear your braces all the time. This is another reason why I would want to get Invisalign if my teeth weren’t already straight! With Invisalign, you can straighten your teeth when it’s convenient and take out the aligners to enjoy everything at the feast. If you askme, that sounds much better than having tomiss out on your favorite pie!
Corn itself is fine to eat with braces, though a littlemessy. But corn on the cob? Patients with braces should take a
Pecan pie is a delicious Thanksgiving staple, but nuts —even when they’ve been baked to perfection—are a no-go when you’re
pass.The hard cob can cause the wires to bend and potentially break.The last thing you want is a dental emergency onThanksgiving!
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Sarah Hale How Thanksgiving Became a National Holiday
Thanksgiving became a national holiday more than 200 years after its first celebration. It gained this status largely due to the persistence of a woman named Sarah Josepha Hale. Hale was a successful magazine editor, prolific writer of novels and poems, and author of the famous nursery rhyme “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” which was first published in her 1830 collection entitled “Poems for Our Children.” In 1827, Hale began a campaign to make Thanksgiving a national holiday. For the next 36 years, she wrote numerous editorials and countless letters to state and federal officials expressing her desire that it gain official status. In 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln finally declared it a national holiday, hoping that it would help heal the wounds of the country.
Thanksgiving is one of the most popular holidays celebrated throughout the United States. One of the first documented Thanksgiving celebrations took place in 1621, when Plymouth colonists andWampanoag Indians shared a feast together. But the banquet, which celebrated the colonists’ first successful harvest, wasn’t just one large meal, nor did it last for only one day; in fact, the feast lasted for three days. In later years, Thanksgiving also lasted for longer than a single meal. During the time of the American Revolution, the Continental Congress chose several days throughout the year to celebrate giving thanks. Then, in 1789, GeorgeWashington made the U.S. national government’s first Thanksgiving proclamation. He used this to speak to his fellowAmerican citizens about the Revolution’s satisfactory conclusion and encouraged them to show their thanks for the freedoms they gained.
celebrated on that day until 1939, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt moved Thanksgiving a week earlier in the hopes of increasing retail sales during the Great Depression. However, this plan was very unpopular, and in 1941, the president reluctantly signed a bill makingThanksgiving the fourthThursday in November. Without the efforts of Sarah Hale, we might not have the pleasure of theThanksgiving feast we know and love to this day. This year, give thanks for family, good food, and the resolve of one woman who recognized the importance of Thanksgiving as a national holiday.
Lincoln decided that the holiday would take place on the last Thursday of November. It was
SPICY, CREAMY SWEET POTATOES
INGREDIENTS
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1/2 cup dark brown sugar 4 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 tablespoon kosher salt
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5 pounds sweet potatoes 1 cup canned coconut milk
1 tablespoonThai red curry paste
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DIRECTIONS
sugar, and half the butter to potatoes. 4. 30 minutes before serving, heat oven to 425 F. Spread potatoes in a baking dish, cover with foil, and bake for 20 minutes. 5. Uncover potatoes and dot with
1. Heat oven to 375 F. On a large sheet pan, bake potatoes until very soft, approximately 75 minutes. 2. Let potatoes cool until they are safe to handle, then peel and mash. 3. In a small saucepan over low heat, combine coconut milk and curry paste. Once mixed, add the mixture, salt, half the
remaining butter and sugar. Broil until brown, crusty, and delicious. Serve hot.
Inspired byThe NewYorkTimes
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
5953 Wescott Rd. Columbia, SC 29212 803-781-5225 Monday–Thursday 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. www.drpitner.com
INSIDE
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What Is a Minimalist Thankful For?
The Cook’s Workout How to Survive Thanksgiving With Braces How Thanksgiving Became an Official Holiday Spicy, Creamy Sweet Potatoes
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Local Events
These Family-Friendly Events Are Waiting for You! il i l LOOKING FOR FUN?
Lights Before Christmas Where: Riverbanks Zoo &Garden When: Nov. 17 to Dec. 30; 5–9 p.m.
SC Oyster Festival Where: Robert Mills House and Gardens When: Sunday, Nov. 18; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission: $5 Website: SCOysterFest.com Oyster season is in full swing! In South Carolina, there’s only one way to celebrate: the 21st annual SCOyster Festival! Bring your appetite to enjoy oyster shooters, fried oysters, oyster gumbo, steamed oysters, and more! In addition to all the mouthwatering mollusks, there will be live music, arts and crafts, vendors, and
Sustainable Holiday Market Where: 701 Center for Contemporary Art When: Monday, Nov. 26; 4:30–8:30 p.m. Admission: $5 for adults, and free for children under 16 Website: SustainableMidlands.org/ holidaymarket Get ready for a different kind of holiday market. Sustainable Midlands presents a celebration of local artisans and unique creations. While you search for the perfect, one-of-a-kind gift, enjoy live music, great food from local chefs, and a seasonal drink at the wine bar. Start your holiday shopping by supporting the local artists who help make Columbia incredible.
Admission: $12 for adults, and $10 for kids Website: Riverbanks.org/events/lights- before-christmas.shtml Riverbanks Zoo & Garden lights up the night this holiday season. Stroll with your family through colorful paths lit with 1 million bright lights, enjoy animated displays, and sip hot chocolate. While most zoo residents will be sound asleep, you may still be able to spot some night owls and other nocturnal animals as you enjoy the light displays at Columbia’s longest-running holiday tradition. Keep in mind that this event will be closed for the holidays on Nov. 22 and Dec. 24–25.
fun games for the whole family. Don’t forget your oyster knives!
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