Pitner Ortho's online newsletter for September 2018
THE STRAIGHT UP
September 2018
The Locker Incident Why Don’t We Celebrate Mistakes?
When I went to school, way back in the Dark Ages, our school district didn’t have amiddle school.You were in elementary school through seventh grade, and then eighth through 12th grades were considered high school.The fall I started eighth grade, I felt like such a grown up. I had a bunch of different classes, I didn’t have to walk single file down the halls, and, best of all, I hadmy own locker! I readSeventeenmagazine; I knew grown-up high school girls had lockers. I was so excited to put my stuff inmy locker, but a few days in, disaster struck.Onemorning, I went to get my books, and I couldn’t openmy locker! I kept trying the combination over and over again, but it wouldn’t work. I got more frustrated with each spin and couldn’t believe how stupid I was.Who just forgets their locker combination? I finally had to go to class without my books, and when I came back to try again later, I still couldn’t get in. I was spiraling until one of my friends came by to check onme. “I can’t get intomy locker!” I explained in a huff. “I know I have the right combination, so the dumb thingmust be broken.”
My friend solvedmy problem in just seven words: “Isn’t your locker in the next row?”
That’s when I thought to check the locker number.
It was super embarrassing at the time, but I laughed about it later. And today, I recognize the Locker Incident as an example of my own fixedmindset sabotagingme. A fixedmindset is when you view intelligence and skill as static —either you’re good at something or you’re not.On the flip side, a growthmindset means you recognize ability is the result of effort and practice; you have to be bad at something before you can be good at something. I have always struggled to overcomemy fixedmindset, and this is something I recognize in a lot of my younger patients. Since we’re officially starting the new school year, I thought nowwould be a good time to look into the benefits of adopting a growthmindset. In the Locker Incident, it was my fixedmindset that decided, when I couldn’t openmy locker on the first try, that either my locker was broken or I was just too dumb to do something so simple. My friend’s growthmindset recognized theremust be a better explanation and looked for solutions. At the time, I beat myself up over such amistake.Today, I know to celebratemy slip-ups.Yes, it was silly and embarrassing, but I knewwheremy locker was after that. Part of having a growthmindset is recognizing
mistakes aren’t the end of the world— they’re one step in learning something you didn’t know before. I really like the idea of celebratingmistakes, especially at the beginning of a school year. There are a lot of things we don’t know yet at the beginning of a new school year, and it’s easy tomakemistakes. And that’s the point!We’re in this world to learn new things, so when you make amistake, adopt a growthmindset and think, “Cool. I learned something new.” This is easier said than done, I know. Sometimes, I slip back into a fixedmindset and dwell on a mistake I made.That’s yet another opportunity to learn and get better. –Dr. Leslie Pitner
“AND TODAY, I RECOGNIZE THE LOCKER INCIDENT AS AN EXAMPLE OF MY OWN FIXED MINDSET SABOTAGING ME.”
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Smile big. Smile often. • 803-781-5225
JUMP BACK INWITH THESE STRATEGIES DidYourWorkoutRoutineTakeaSummerVacation?
With barbecues, trips to the pool, and indulging in refreshing beverages on the patio, summer is full of
enjoy doing it. If that’s the case, re-evaluate your options. There is no superior form of exercise, and there are plenty of options to align with your preferences. If you couldn't get enough of hiking in national parks over the summer, join a hiking group in your community. If you prefer being on a team, look for a local adult league for your favorite sport. 2. Set yourself up for success. You would go to that 5:30 p.m. boot camp class, but it’s right in the middle of your daughter’s dance practice. Getting to the gym is half the battle, so make it easier on yourself by
there’s a class after work, consider leaving an extra set of gym clothes at your office so you’ll never have an excuse not to go. 3. Make your workout an unavoidable part of your day. It’s tempting to join your coworkers for happy hour, especially when that outdoor patio is just around the block from your office. But what if it were that easy to get to the gym? Look for facilities that are on your commute, near your work, or close to home. If it’s easy to get to, you’ll be more likely to go and still have time for that drink afterward.
relaxation and fun. But those heart-pumping, muscle- building trips to the gym may have become less frequent during the warmer months. If your workout routine
preparing in advance. Find a facility with a schedule that easily fits yours. If you’re planning to work out in the morning, set your
went on its own summer vacation, here are three strategies to get back to it. 1. Find something you like to do. Maybe part of the reason your fitness routine took a break was because you didn’t
It may take time to make your workout routine a seamless part of your life, but implementing some of these strategies will make it easier and more
clothes out the night before, and choose an energetic song for your alarm. If enjoyable.You might even find yourself looking forward to back- to-the-gym season! FROM THE OFFICE OF BUSTER
The iPhone of Orthodontics G’DAY, MATE!
more memory than early computers! But it’s not just machines and computers that keep getting better. At Pitner Orthodontics, there are technologies around the office that have changed dramatically without anyone noticing. Just look at Invisalign! Clear plastic aligners came on the scene in 1999, before NSYNC sang “Bye Bye Bye.” (Sorry for getting that song stuck in your head.) Even in the early days, Invisalign was pretty awesome, but there were a lot of things it couldn’t do. Patients with extreme orthodontic problems still needed to rely on traditional metal braces. But like all technologies, Invisalign has changed a lot over the last 20 years. Today, Invisalign can be used to treat crowding, gaps, overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites (when the top and bottom teeth don’t touch even when the jaw is closed). These are huge accomplishments, but the funny thing is most
Last month, I talked a bit about why dogs aren’t fans of technology. It can be very frustrating when my mom is too busy working on her computer to pet me! I will admit, though, there are some kinds of technology I like. For example, smartphones are awesome. Dr. Leslie has an iPhone, and she mostly uses it to take pictures of me, which I think is the best use for any smartphone. People are always amazed by how good the photos turn out. I think it has something to do with the fact that I don’t have a bad side, though Mom says it’s because technology is always improving. That is one thing that’s pretty neat about technology. It’s always getting better. At one point, my momwould need to have a camera to take pictures of me and wait a week to have those photos developed. Now, her phone has
people don’t realize what Invisalign is capable of today. That’s like picturing a flip phone when someone talks about the new iPhone X! Thanks to improving technology, many patients who were told that Invisalign couldn’t help them in the past can come into the office today and start their journey toward a beautiful smile.
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www.drpitner.com
Need a Personal Assistant to Manage Your Kids’ Crazy Schedules?
The RightTool for the Job
School has started.Youth sports are in full swing.Work is crazy. Food has become more about necessity than enjoyment. All of this can only mean one thing: Fall has begun. The crazy schedules this time of year can make it tough for parents to keep their heads on straight; making it through the insanity sometimes feels more like survival than life. But there are tactics you can employ to turn the tide and find more time for yourself. There’s no reason to try to do everything on your own. The phrase “It takes a village to raise a child” exists because managing the stressors of life requires help. A great place to start is by establishing car pools with a parent group you trust.You can alternate drivers weekly, which provides the opportunity for you to focus your attention on other priorities — or if you’re lucky, have some freedom. TagTeam
Technology makes organization easier and more accessible than ever. By using a tool like a shared calendar, you can coordinate the entire family’s schedule so you never miss a beat. And apps like Mealime and MealBoard give you the ability to whip up food that is cost-effective and delicious.
Teamwork Makes the DreamWork
While you’re busy trying to rally the troops at soccer practice, the scene at home resembles a horror movie. Laundry is piling up, food is spoiling in the fridge, and the dust bunnies around the house now have names. Housecleaning is a part-time job in its own right. The only way to stay on top of duties around the house is to work together. A chore chart with clear responsibilities is a great place to start. Whether you have one child or eight, everyone is capable of pitching in.
You can have all the organizational abilities in the world, but the best way to manage life’s madness isn’t by directing day-to-day tasks; it’s by managing stress. Instead of using these tools to control life, look at them as a way to free up time so you can decompress and enjoy the things you love.
BEANS & GREENS RIGATONI
INGREDIENTS
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12 ounces rigatoni pasta 1 bunchTuscan kale, rinsed 1 15-ounce can cannellini (white kidney) beans 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
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1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
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Juice of 1 lemon
Salt, for pasta water and to taste 2 ounces fresh grated Parmigiano-Reggiano (optional)
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DIRECTIONS
1. In a large stock pot, boil 6 quarts of liberally salted water. On another burner, heat a large skillet to medium-low. 2. Add pasta to boiling water and cook for 3 minutes less than the package recommends. 3. While pasta is cooking, add beans, red pepper, and 1 tablespoon of oil to skillet. Cook until lightly browned, about 5 minutes. 4. Add cooked pasta, kale, and 1 cup pasta water to skillet. Toss vigorously as kale cooks, about 4 minutes. 5. Transfer to bowls, top with a squeeze of lemon, sprinkle with cheese or salt, and serve. Inspired by Bon Appétit Magazine
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Smile big. Smile often. • 803-781-5225
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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New Year, New Mistakes
3 Fitness Strategies for the Back-to-School Season Are Your Teeth Living in 1999? 3 Tips to Help Organize Your Crazy Life Beans and Greens Rigatoni
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Local Events
Fill Your Calendar With Great Family Events MAKE WEEKENDS MORE FUN
Riverbanks ZOOfari Where: Riverbanks Zoo &Garden, Columbia When: Friday, Sept. 21, 7 p.m. Admission: $65 Riverbanks members, $75 general public Website: Riverbanks.org/events/zoofari.shtml Celebrate cocktails, cuisine, and conservation at Riverbanks Zoo & Garden’s favorite fundraising event of the year. Explore Riverbanks Backstage, feed the giraffes, bid on special items in the silent and live auctions, and enjoy delicious food and
Read-A-Palooza 2018 Where: St. Andrews Park, Columbia When: Saturday, Sept. 22, 12–2 p.m. Admission: Free Website: Cricketcurls.com/read-a- palooza-.html
RosewoodArt &Music Festival Where: RockawayAthleticClub, Columbia When: Saturday, Sept. 29, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Admission: Free Website: Rosewoodfestival.com The value of art cannot be overstated. Science helps us understand the world around us, but it’s through the arts that we are able to explain what it is like to live in that world. The Rosewood Art & Music Festival invites you to meet local artists and others from around the country showing off their talents and original works of art. Whether you are a fan of visual art, music, poetry, or just eager to support the community, this festival is not one to miss.
What’s better than a good book? How about finding a bunch of good books and supporting children’s literacy at the annual Read-A-Palooza? This fantastic community event aims to inspire children to become lifelong readers through food, fun, book swaps, and other great activities. For this year’s theme, “Superheroes Read,” attendees are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superheroes and show how reading can help change the world.
drinks. All proceeds go to support the Riverbanks Zoo & Garden, so be sure to claim your tickets early to be part of this unique zoo experience.
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