Take a look at this month's edition of The Monthly Renewal!
The
Monthly
Renewal
3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • www.eyeplasticmd.com
NOVEMBER 2020
A THANKSGIVING THEME Appreciation for Team Members and Patients
For the theme of Thanksgiving this year, I want to highlight how much I appreciate working with such a wonderful group of talented people. Throughout the work week, I like to arrive at the office early to get things organized. As I prepare for the day, I’m always pleased to see everyone come into work with a delightful and positive attitude. They come through the doors ready to work as a team, supporting the motto in our office: We don’t live to work; we work to live. All of us here at Eye Plastic Associates function as part of that team, and we are a work family. We back each other up. If, heaven forbid, someone faces a hardship , we want to be sure they feel supported. If this struggle should require that they take some time off, it’s important that we support them. We want to create a work environment where everyone on the team feels that this is, indeed, a family.
laughing and joking as they head for home. Every day they come in as a team, and every day they leave as one. This feeling of support and camaraderie is the same experience we wish to share with our patients. We hope it’s apparent to those who visit our office. Committed to each other, the work we do, and the services we offer, we want each patient to have that same shared sense of support and appreciation. Fortunately, it easily runs both ways. It is especially gratifying to interact with many patients who share a similar approach to life. As a place of focus, one of my goals for the office is to make sure my team has enough energy to meet the needs of their day — not simply enough energy for the workday, but to maintain that energy when they head home. A successful work environment ensures energy enough to enjoy their lives outside of work, whether that be spending time with their family, cultivating a hobby, or spending time with friends. I often compare it to that excited anticipation we feel when there is a special celebration or event marked on our calendar. During the week leading up to that day, we get excited in anticipation of
this planned activity. When the day arrives, there is an extra level of energy because we know we’re leaving to do something fun. In that same way, I want all of us at Eye Plastic Associates to have that energy when we go home. In support of these values, and specific to the Thanksgiving season, it is good to take time to spotlight these types of blessings. It’s important to set aside time to reach out to those we love and care for and make our appreciation known, whether family, friends, colleagues, or patients. It’s also worthwhile to remember we need not limit these outward expressions of gratitude to a single season. May this Thanksgiving holiday help us focus on those who matter most.
“We have a motto in the office, which is: We don’t live to work; we work to live.”
I want to highlight my gratitude and appreciation for my team members and my patients. To each of you I
It makes me smile to overhear someone on our team turn to another member to thank them for their help that day or to compliment them for doing such a good job. That type of encouragement stays with people and moves people to do their very best. Though some days may be challenging, taking time to appreciate something someone does, small or large, is so important. And when the workday is finished, I love hearing my staff pack up and leave
work alongside of, thank you. Please know I value all that you bring to my life professionally and personally.
—Dr. Kevin Scott
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Why Is Spinach So Good for You?
POTENT PROTECTION AGAINST DISEASE
If the reason you know spinach is good for you is because either your mother told you, or you saw Popeye the Sailor down a can before a fight and gain superhuman strength, you might not understand exactly why it’s so good for you. Rest assured, your mom wasn’t lying (although Popeye might have been stretching the truth). Spinach is actually one of the most nutritious and versatile foods you can add to your diet. Here’s why.
The abundant antioxidants in spinach mitigate a staggering number of health problems. For starters, spinach has kaempferol, an antioxidant that can protect the body against cancer. Additionally, the antioxidant quercetin, also found in spinach, has been shown to have positive effects on brain health, heart disease, and Type 2 diabetes. Other components of spinach can also improve blood pressure and protect eye health.
INCREDIBLE NUTRIENT-PER-CALORIE COUNT
VERSATILE IN MEAL PREPARATION
Three cups of spinach contain about 20 calories. However, those 3 cups also contain almost no fat, 2 grams of protein, 3 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of fiber. On top of that, you get more than 300% of your daily dose of vitamin K, which supports bone growth; 160% of your daily dose of vitamin A; and around 25%–40% of your daily dose of vitamin C, both of which help the immune system function properly.
Aside from the more scientific reasons that make spinach a superfood, you can prepare and consume spinach in so many creative ways. You can eat it raw as a part of a salad, throw a few leaves in a smoothie, cook it in stir fry, or bake it into some brownies. If you have a bag of spinach in your fridge, there’s no shortage of ways you can get some of those amazing health benefits. Just don’t expect to suddenly vanquish all your foes like Popeye did.
Jenisse
A Key Component of Eye Plastic Associates
COVID-19 has made a huge impact on all of our lives, including the way we interact with our families. For Jenisse, our medical assistant at Eye Plastic Associates, this has been a challenge. In any normal year, Jenisse spends her time outside the office with her husband and her two children socializing with her family at get-togethers for holidays, birthdays, and even just to enjoy their company. Yet, despite this pandemic, we have found creative ways to keep up with each other and make sure we are all getting through this mentally and physically. We may not be seeing each other as much, but we know we are all there for each other. We want our patients to feel the same way, so we have done everything we can to maintain communication with our patients, as well as referring doctor’s offices to let them know, “We are here for you.” Jenisse has been with Eye Plastic Associates for over 5 1/2 years and has been in the ophthalmic field for over 20 years. Having worked with ophthalmologists focusing on eye diseases, Jenisse has found working with Dr. Scott immensely satisfying. No matter what ocular issue our patient comes in with, Jenisse makes sure they know they are in the right hands. “I truly appreciate the opportunity to help in such a specialized field and want our patients to feel that they have come to the correct place to address their concerns. Whether it be medical or cosmetic, it’s all important to us.”
Our goal, as Dr. Scott always says, is to ensure our patients receive an experience that is better than what they thought it would be. Jenisse states that is actually one of our office goals, “We have people who come in scared. They say their eyes are their life, so we are there to reassure them that we understand their fears and their concerns and that we will take care of them. Our staff all want to be there for our patients and for Dr. Scott.”
Our team works together as a unit to compassionately assist our patients toward their
desired medical or surgical goal. Our office environment is great, we get along extremely well, and we know our patients can feel the camaraderie in the office. Jenisse, with her outstanding ophthalmic skills and personality, along with the entire team here at Eye Plastic Associates, work hard so that our patients achieve the best possible outcome from their chosen procedure. Using this consistent approach to patient care, this goal can be achieved time and time again.
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DAILY HABITS: 3 METHODS FOR POSITIVE THINKING
STOP AND TAKE A BREATH
IDENTIFY 3 THINGS YOU APPRECIATE
An old story once said that there are two wolves living in each person’s heart: a wolf of love and a wolf of hate. And the one that flourishes is the one a person chooses to feed. When the wolf of love, kindness, and appreciation is fed, it will continue to grow stronger each day. People who focus on the positives in their lives will find themselves filled with those positives. However, this practice can be challenging. After a difficult day, or even as we look back over this year, it can be hard to think about any positives. Luckily, we can incorporate a few daily habits into our lives to help.
Meditation is a great way to calm the mind and relax the body, especially when we’re feeling angry or anxious. By setting aside 5–10 minutes of your day to sit still and breathe, you can recognize and release negative emotions. Today, there are many ways to learn to meditate, including a number of apps, such as Headspace, Calm, and Ten Percent Happier. These apps teach the basics of meditation, then offer short guided meditations or various meditation courses. Meditation is frequently misunderstood to mean you have to “think about nothing.” Meditation is more about gently being aware of what is on your mind, naming it, and then letting it go and moving back to your anchor, such as your breathing. Meditation can be a simple and wonderful way to reduce stress, become more self-aware, and cultivate greater patience, kindness, and tolerance.
A great way to increase your positive thinking is by keeping a gratitude journal to recall and document what you’re most thankful for each day. This could include the people or person in your life, a wonderful meal you enjoyed, the old song that randomly played on the radio and triggered a delightful memory, the unexpected call/text you received from an old friend, or the greeting your dog gave when you arrived home. You can even express gratitude for a challenge you are experiencing. Be creative! The importance of this practice is to look at things in a positive light, and this nurtured mindset will help draw more good things into your life or help you to appreciate the good things that are already in your life. Referring back to the metaphor at the beginning of this article, the more you feed the wolf of love, the more positive you will be. Apply these three habits into your life today and experience improvements in both your physical and mental health. Enjoy better sleep, reduced stress, and greater self-esteem and derive pleasure from the little but frequently missed joyous moments in everyday life.
RECOGNIZE NEGATIVE THOUGHTS
A first crucial step is to recognize negative thoughts when they appear. For many people, automatic negative thoughts (ANTs) are a first response to making a mistake or encountering a problem. These thoughts often include words such as “never” or “always,” even when it isn’t true. To put ANTs in their place, recognize when they appear and try to replace them with more realistic words. Instead of thinking, “I never get anything right,” think instead, “I’m sometimes wrong, but I can learn from this.”
Sinfully Sweet Butternut Squash
Inspiration
This butternut squash, oven-roasted and caramelized to perfection, could almost pass for dessert. You’d never guess it’s a dish loaded with vitamins and antioxidants! Inspired by WellPlated.com.
INGREDIENTS
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1 large butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cut into 1-inch cubes
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1 3/4 tsp kosher salt 3/4 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp black pepper 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
“Appreciation is a wonderful thing: It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.” — Voltaire
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1 1/2 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 400 F, placing the two oven racks at the top and bottom of the oven. Then grease two baking sheets. 2. In a large bowl, combine squash cubes, olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and spices. Toss to coat, then spread mixture in a single layer over the baking sheets. 3. Place both pans in the oven and bake 15 minutes. Turn the cubes with a spatula and return them to the oven, swapping them to different racks. Continue baking 10–15 minutes until tender. 4. Sprinkle with rosemary and serve!
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3700 Joseph Siewick Dr., Suite 400 • Fairfax, VA 22033 (703) 620-4300 • www.eyeplasticmd.com
Inside This Issue
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Time to Appreciate Team Members and Patients
2 2 3 3 4
What Makes Spinach a Superfood?
Meet Jenisse, Our Medical Assistant
3 Methods for Positive Thinking
Sinfully Sweet Butternut Squash
Is ‘Glamping’ the Perfect Winter Getaway?
Is ‘Glamping’ the Perfect Winter Getaway? CABIN FEVER HAS NEVER BEEN SO STYLISH
When COVID-19 struck the U.S., travel restrictions had people canceling their vacation plans left and right. This meant that many would-be vacationers had to find some getaways a little closer to home — namely, camping trips and their fancier cousin, glamping trips.
Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks you can apply to any glamping location to ensure that your time away from home is just as relaxing as that Caribbean cruise would have been.
STEP 1: DECIDE WHICH KIND OF LODGING YOU WANT.
Glamping shelters come in all shapes and sizes depending on the level of comfort you desire on your trip. The most rugged glamping lodgings usually still include a wood-burning stove and a nice comfy bed, whether you opt for a log cabin or a specialized glamping tent (sometimes called a yurt). However, some of the more posh options include amenities like fresh linens, private bathrooms and showers, fully stocked kitchenettes, and even TVs.
If you haven’t heard of “glamping” before, it’s essentially glamorous camping. You have access to the beautiful, rugged outdoors as well as all the comforts of home. While traditional winter camping certainly wouldn’t be a relaxing getaway for most people, glamping during the winter months can give you access to the peace of the outdoors like you’ve never experienced before without so much as a shiver or sniffle. If you’ve decided to make glamping your go-to method of escape from the cabin fever that besets us all during the cold, dark winter days, you might be thinking: How can I make sure I have the best glamping experience possible?
STEP 2: DECIDE HOWYOU WANT TO SPEND YOUR TIME.
Obviously, the point of glamping is to spend time in the great outdoors with winter activities, such as snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and other fun snow activities. However, glamping really shines during the frigid evenings. You can retreat indoors, throw some logs in the stove, prepare some hot cocoa or cider, and just watch the snowfall from your window. There’s no right or wrong way to glamp. All that matters is spending time in the wilderness with all the comforts of home — all while feeling refreshed and at peace.
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