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October 2025
ON THE
MOVE
The Day Pop Pop Stole My Cookies And Taught Me How to Live
When I was growing up, I was taught a basic rule of human decency: Don’t laugh at other people. It’s not kind, it’s disrespectful, and it can stick with someone for a lifetime. We were reminded to treat others how we’d like to be treated, including keeping a straight face when we caught someone else in an embarrassing moment.
But then there was my grandfather. We called him Pop Pop.
My grandmother, Mamu, was the keeper of home-cooked meals, the guardian of hidden chocolate chip cookies, and the one who enforced the “no dessert before dinner” rule with an iron will. Pop Pop, well, he was a different force of nature. One evening, when I was about 4 years old, my brother and I were having dinner at my grandparents’ house. I wanted nothing more than to get through the escarole and chicken so I could have a cookie. Finally, Mamu brought them out, still hidden in the mysterious Tupperware she kept stashed away from both kids and my grandfather. She opened the lid, handed us two each, and I was just about to bite into that first cookie when … lightning struck. Pop Pop’s hand flashed across the table and yanked it right from my mouth, literally inches before my teeth closed around it. I froze. Before I could recover, my other cookie was gone, too. My grandmother tried to pry his hand open, while my brother wolfed his down before he could lose it. And Pop Pop? Well, he sat there chewing and laughing like a man who’d just pulled off the heist of the century. I was furious. My brother was laughing, and my grandmother was swatting at Pop Pop. It was a fiasco! At that moment, the “don’t laugh at other people” lesson seemed like gospel truth. This was cruel and unusual punishment, and I was the victim. Fast-forward four years, and my cousin was visiting, and after dinner, Mamu brought out the cookies. My brother and I grabbed ours quickly, wary of Pop Pop’s speed, especially when it came to cookies. But my cousin … she hesitated.
In a flash, her cookie was gone, snatched right out of her hand mid-bite. She cried, Mamu charged from the stove, and there was Pop Pop, laughing uncontrollably with a half-chewed cookie still in his mouth. I looked over at my brother; he was cracking up, and I started laughing, too. It was hilarious: the sheer speed, the look of betrayal on my cousin’s face, and the replay of my own childhood trauma, but this time, I was on the other side. Pop Pop wasn’t being mean; he was just being Pop Pop. And in that moment, I realized something: Maybe his way was better. He taught me something my “serious” upbringing hadn’t: Don’t take yourself too seriously. Life is full of bumps in the road, unexpected moments, and stolen cookies. Sometimes, you’ll be the one getting your snack swiped, and sometimes, you’ll be the one laughing with a mouthful of victory crumbs. We carried that tradition on; my cousin’s younger sister even got her turn years later, and it became a family rite of passage. Decades later, if the story comes up, we still laugh until we cry. So, yes, it’s good to be kind and considerate. But every once in a while, when the opportunity arises, especially in my family, forget about looking dignified. Laugh, even if it’s at yourself.
–Dr. Robert Morea
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At an estimated 310 decibels (dB), Krakatoa’s roar remains the loudest sound human ears and instruments have ever recorded. To put that in perspective, even 150 dB can rupture eardrums. Krakatoa more than doubled that. TSAR BOMBA: THE LOUDEST HUMAN-MADE EXPLOSION Tsar Bomba was almost as intense as Krakatoa, but humans created this one. Detonated by the Soviet Union in 1961, this hydrogen bomb released the energy of 50 megatons of TNT. The blast was measured around 224 dB, enough to flatten buildings hundreds of miles away and break windows across Northern Europe. The mushroom cloud rose to over 40 miles high. THE MYSTERIOUS OCEANIC ‘BLOOP’ In 1997, underwater microphones in the South Pacific picked up an ultra-low-frequency sound dubbed the “Bloop.” It was so loud it could be detected over 3,000 miles away. At first, the unexplained noise caused people to speculate about unknown sea monsters. But scientists later attributed it to an icequake, or giant icebergs cracking and shifting in the ocean. Even so, its eerie origin and intensity are fascinating. COSMIC VIBRATIONS BEYOND EARTH Although sound can’t travel in space’s vacuum, cosmic events still generate wave-like disturbances. In 2003, scientists discovered a black hole in the Perseus galaxy cluster that was emitting pressure waves in space gas — the waves translated into an incredibly deep B-flat, 57 octaves below middle C. If we could “hear” it, it would be an impossibly deep, booming rumble across millions of light-years.
THINK YOUR HEADPHONES ARE LOUD? These Sounds Put That to Shame
Most of us think we’ve experienced “loud”: a front row seat at a rock concert, a jetliner taking off, or a fire alarm blaring in a small room. But those everyday rumbles don’t come close to the Earth’s loudest sounds that have shattered records, and in some cases, been heard across entire oceans. KRAKATOA’S EARTH-SHATTERING BLAST In 1883, the volcanic island of Krakatoa in Indonesia exploded in a detonation so violent that it obliterated most of the island and generated tsunamis that killed more than 36,000 people. People heard the sound from over 3,000 miles away, as far as Mauritius and Australia.
Workout Guilt Is Real HERE’S HOW TO DITCH IT FOR GOOD
We’ve all been there. You swore this would be the week: four workouts, minimum. But it’s Thursday, you’ve squeezed in one short walk, and now you’re sitting on the couch feeling like a fitness failure. If this sounds familiar, you aren’t alone. Workout guilt is incredibly common, but that doesn’t mean it’s helpful. It often leads to unnecessary shame and harsh self-talk. Let’s change that. Fitness is a long game, not a perfect streak. Missing one workout, or even a few, doesn’t undo your progress. After all, fitness isn’t all about keeping your record flawless. It’s about building habits that fit into real life, and real life includes bad days, busy weeks, and changing priorities. Your progress is measured over time. Instead of fixating
on what you didn’t do, focus on what you have done and, more importantly, what you will do next. Guilt doesn’t motivate. It paralyzes. Many people think guilt is a good motivator, but it often backfires. It creates an all-or-nothing mindset, where the whole week suddenly feels lost if you miss one day. That mentality is what derails consistency, not the missed workout itself. Instead of letting guilt spiral into self- sabotage, pause and ask yourself: What do I need right now? Rest? Support? A plan for tomorrow? That shift in mindset makes all the difference. Be flexible, not flawless. Flexibility is the key to long-term success. Some days, your body needs rest more than a workout. Other times,
a walk or a stretch might be all you can give, and that’s still movement. It counts! Honoring your needs rather than punishing yourself builds a healthier relationship with exercise and makes it more sustainable (and enjoyable!) in the long run. Remember, you are not your workout log. Whether or not you exercised today, you are worthy, strong, and capable. The goal of fitness should be to feel better in your body and life, not rack up perfect gym attendance. So, don’t beat yourself up next time you miss a workout. Show yourself the same grace you’d offer a friend. Take a deep breath, reset, and move forward without the guilt.
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Call 718.747.2019 today for an appointment or to find out if you have any visits remaining in 2025. You can’t carry your allotted Medicare sessions over to next year. Keep in mind that Occupational Therapists in our clinic help with balance, strength, and improving pain-free movement as well as Physical Therapists. If Ya Don’t Use ‘Em, Ya Lose ‘Em!
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TAKE A BREAK!
Creamy Braised Short Ribs
Inspired by RecipesByJanet.com
INGREDIENTS • 5 lbs bone-in short ribs • Ground black pepper • 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced • 6 garlic cloves, chopped • 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves • 1 cup white wine or broth
• 1/2 cup water • 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup chopped kale (optional) • 4 tbsp salted butter, divided • 8 fresh sage leaves
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 325 F. 2. In a large braiser, season short ribs with black pepper. Scatter onion, garlic, and thyme over ribs. Pour in white wine or broth and 1/2 cup water. 3. Cover the braiser with a lid and roast for 2 1/2–3 hours. 4. Increase temperature to 400 F. Remove the lid, skim excess fat, and stir in heavy cream, kale, and 2 tbsp butter. Roast uncovered for 10–20 minutes. 5. Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Melt remaining butter and fry sage leaves until crisp. 6. Serve ribs hot with creamy sauce, garnished with sage.
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1. Cookies, Chaos, and the Best Advice I Ever Got INSIDE THIS ISSUE 2. Earth’s Most Deafening Moments One Missed Workout Won’t Wreck Your Progress (but Guilt Might)
3. If Ya Don’t Use ’Em, Ya Lose ’Em! Creamy Braised Short Ribs
4. Stop Sabotaging Your Plate and Start Rewriting Your Thoughts
The Mental Shift Behind Better Eating
YOU NEED A NEW DIALOGUE, NOT A NEW DIET
You’ve tossed the junk food. You’ve Googled “healthy recipes.” You’ve sworn off dessert … again. But despite your best intentions, your late-night snack turns into a secret sugar rendezvous. What gives? It’s not your willpower. It’s your mindset. Healthy eating has less to do with your stomach and more with what’s happening between your ears. The beliefs you carry about food, those quiet little thoughts that zip through your brain unconsciously, are the real drivers of your habits. Take this classic thought: “I have to eat healthy all the time.” Sounds noble, but it feels like a punishment or a need for perfection, which is exhausting and unsustainable. Every time you think this, try swapping it with: “I get to choose how I nourish myself.” That simple shift puts you back in the driver’s seat, steering you toward empowerment, not burnout. Or maybe you’ve told yourself, “I have terrible eating habits.” That’s not a fact, it’s judgment. A better spin? “I have habits I’m ready to upgrade.” Now you’re someone on a mission, not someone stuck in shame. Then there’s the emotional trap: “Eating makes me happy.” Spoiler: It doesn’t. It gives you a sugar rush and a dopamine blip,
but that’s not joy; it’s a high. Repeat this thought instead: “Food can comfort me in the moment, but real happiness comes from deeper places.” Now you’re seeking peace, not pie. Do you feel out of control and think, “I can’t stop eating” ? Yes, you can. You own your arms, your fork, and your next move. Remind yourself: “I may want more, but I choose when to stop.” That’s strength and autonomy.
And when you slip? Don’t spiral. Instead of “I shouldn’t have,” ask: “What can I learn for next time?” Growth is always on the table; you just have to reach for it. So, yes, eating well starts with vegetables. But thriving? That starts with your thoughts. Flip your mindset, and you won’t just eat better; you’ll feel better, too.
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