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PATIENT PULSE
(858) 675-1133 | www.waterpt.com
15373 Innovation Dr. #175 | San Diego, CA 92128 | (858) 675-1133 12171 World Trade Dr. | San Diego, CA 92128
A SIMPLE SMILE WORKS WONDERS FIND HAPPINESS IN THE LITTLE THINGS
One of the most simple things in life is also one of the most profound. Smiles are one of the only things that transcend language barriers and cultures. A smile signifies happiness, compassion, laughter, and understanding. It’s a simple yet powerful gesture that can brighten anyone’s day and leave a lasting impression. Oct. 6 is World Smile Day, which reminds us of the importance of sharing our smiles with others and the impact they can make on ourselves. Did you know that studies show that smiling, even if you have to force it, can boost your levels of dopamine and serotonin, making you feel happier? The next time you are struggling or feeling down, take a moment to focus on the blessings in your life and allow yourself to smile — I promise it’ll help you to feel better. Nothing is more powerful for me than seeing a patient at our clinic reach a milestone or goal they originally thought impossible to achieve. As a physical therapist, I aim to get our patients to a point where they can resume activities and passions that bring them happiness in their hearts and a smile on their faces. In turn, I never fail to smile when patients or clients let me know how much they appreciate the knowledge and efforts of our team — it warms my heart.
Outside of physical therapy, many blessings and amazing things bring a smile to my face. I love watching a child figure out a puzzle or problem independently — it’s incredible how much information children absorb in a day. After I return home from a business trip to teach physical therapy courses, there is nothing better than seeing my husband pull up at the airport to pick me up. His support, both personally and professionally, means the world to me. A clean house is also extremely satisfying and never fails to make me smile. While I do my own housekeeping, sometimes it takes me a while to get the deep cleaning checked off my list (I’d fire myself if I was the hired help). But, when I get motivated to get it done, the end result with flowers on the kitchen counter never fails to make me smile. Lastly, the little things in life bring me the biggest smiles. Hands down, my favorite food is lobster rolls, and my all-time favorite movies that leave me laughing for hours are “Weekend at Bernie’s” and “Mrs. Doubtfire.” The iconic scenes get me every time, no matter how many times I’ve watched them (which is way too much)! In today’s busy world, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and stressed out, but embracing the power of a smile is a simple yet impactful way to brighten your world. Whether it’s by sharing a friendly smile with a stranger, brightening your co-worker’s day with a coffee, or spending time with a loved one, don’t forget to let your smile shine!
REFERRALS WELCOME! A referral is the greatest compliment you could ever give us. If you know someone in need of our expert services, we welcome the opportunity to help! Feel free to pass along this newsletter, or have them give us a call at (858) 675-1133. We greatly appreciate it!
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AI-ENHANCED TRAVEL: YOUR SECRET TO THE PERFECT ITINERARY
The feeling of excitement for an upcoming vacation can quickly turn into one of stress. After you purchase your ticket or plan your travel, you may feel so burnt out that scheduling day-to- day activities for said vacation feels impossible. Thankfully, helping you create an itinerary is where AI thrives. SO, HOW DO YOU USE AI TO HELP YOU PLAN A TRIP? The first step is to craft a prompt that will get the best response possible. To do that, ask your preferred AI platform questions in your native language. AI understands many languages, and your grammar and syntax when asking questions matter when looking for perfect results. The more grammatically accurate your sentence is, the more artificial intelligence can help you.
Next, you need to be as specific as possible. Include all relevant information about your travel party when asking it to make plans for you, including if there are any kids, elderly travelers, pets, dietary restrictions, interests, or priorities because those factors will impact the results it gives you. You should also tell the AI software when it misunderstands you or gives you results that don’t match what you want. AI, like ChatGPT, uses large language models (LLMs) to learn from the person interacting with it, so the back-and- forth of providing feedback helps it pinpoint your specific interests to give you better information.
activities in less crowded areas that are accessible to elderly travelers.”
Finally, double-check any of the information AI gives you. Most platforms can only access information available before 2021, so certain attractions, restaurants, parks, or other itinerary items may not exist anymore. WANT TO GIVE AI TRAVEL A GO? ChatGPT isn’t the only site you can use to plan your itinerary! You can try any one of the following AI software specifically created for travel: • Tripnotes.ai • RoamAround.ai • Curiosio.com
For example, you can provide this prompt: “Make me a travel itinerary for seven days in Rome with
EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT MEET MICHELLE!
“My name is Michelle, and I am so excited to join the team here at NCWSTC! I am a San Diego native and live here with my husband, Charlie, and our two children. My daughter, Sienna, has started courses at Palomar College, and my son, Charlie, entered high school recently. I have been a medical assistant since 2010, working in internal medicine and orthopedics, and in my free time, I enjoy live music, camping, and spending time with my family. I look forward to the opportunity to serve and meet you!” –Michelle
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SURPRISING HABITS HURTING YOUR BRAIN HEALTH
Everything we think, feel, and do involves our brains, so keeping them healthy is worth our time. But doing so might require more from us than a nutritional diet, exercise, and occasional sudoku. Everyday habits can profoundly affect our neurological health, and some will likely surprise you. CHECKING OUR PHONES AFTER WAKING UP Many people have their phones in hand before they even get out of bed, but this morning routine could be doing significant damage. Immediately inputting so much sensory information causes our brains to miss crucial stages in the natural waking process. The dopamine we get from checking messages and likes also primes our brains for more, creating further distractions throughout LAUGH THERAPY
the day. Experts suggest waiting an hour to check your phone, but if you can’t last that long, every minute you delay counts.
ENGAGING IN NEGATIVE THINKING Did you know poor mental health impairs our ability to think clearly? The same is true with patterns of negative thinking. Neuroplasticity means the input we give our brains shapes and changes how they function, and negative thinkers have more difficulty reasoning and forming memories. Fortunately, neuroplasticity also means we can choose to change. Mindfulness, stress relief, purposeful positive thinking, and therapy can all help us learn to turn negative thoughts around. It will improve brain health, and we’ll likely feel happier, too. SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ALONE Humans are social creatures. So, while our brains need new challenges and information to stay sharp, they also crave social interaction. Spending time with others improves our mental health and ability to form memories. Socializing also keeps our brains active, which neuroscientists believe might fight dementia. Specifically, older adults can have trouble switching between active and daydream states, but social interaction will help sharpen that skill. Alone time is crucial, but too much of a good thing can be dangerous. Make sure to interact with friends and family often or find ways to meet new people whose company you enjoy.
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INGREDIENTS •
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• • • •
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
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1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp salt
2 large eggs
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
2 cups (12-oz package) semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup granulated sugar
DIRECTIONS 1. Preheat oven to 375 F. 2. In a small bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. 3. In a large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract until creamy. 4. To creamed mixture, add eggs one at a time, beating until blended. 5. Gradually beat in flour mixture. 6. Stir in chocolate chips. 7. Arrange dough in rounded teaspoonfuls on ungreased baking sheets. 8. Bake 8–10 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; move to wire racks to cool completely. 3 (858) 675-1133
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Monday—Thursday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. (858) 675-1133 www.waterpt.com
15373 Innovation Dr. #175 San Diego, CA 92128
INSIDE THIS ISSUE 1 Embrace the Magic of a Smile 2 Personalized Vacations With AI Employee Spotlight 3 Are These Bad Habits Hurting Your Brain? The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies
4 San Diego’s Top Pumpkin Patches
DISCOVER SAN DIEGO’S BEST PUMPKIN PATCHES
Fall has arrived! While San Diego will always maintain its coastal charm, there are plenty of amazing pumpkin patches and fall destinations to prepare for Halloween, autumn, and the holiday season! Here are a few of our favorites — be sure to check them out! Pumpkin Station With multiple locations throughout San Diego, Pumpkin Station is a convenient and festive choice for families to enjoy! Each location offers a unique experience and features petting zoos, corn mazes, hay rides, and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. Oma’s Family Farm Nestled in Lakeside, Oma’s Family Farm offers a great mix of traditional pumpkin patch activities with a touch of nostalgia. It’s the perfect place to spend the afternoon with farm animals,
wagon rides, pony rides, hay rides, pumpkin painting, and seasonal food and drinks.
Bates Nut Farm Located in Valley Center, Bates Nut Farm is a favorite for multiple reasons. This time of year, the entire farm transforms into a pumpkin wonderland. Check out their Fall Festival on Fridays with live music, face painting, and fun seasonal activities! The Farm Stand West A quaint pumpkin patch experience awaits at The Farm Stand West in Escondido. In addition to picking pumpkins for baking, carving, or decorating, you can browse the country market for local produce, jams, and goods!
Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch At Mr. Jack O’ Lanterns Pumpkin Patch on La Jolla Blvd., you can find the perfect pumpkin and check out their costume and decoration shop. With tons of games and activities such as farm animals, pumpkin decorating, and pumpkin bowling to keep everyone entertained, this pumpkin patch is a “must visit” this season! Whether you’re looking for a traditional pumpkin-picking experience or something more exciting and unique, these patches will deliver a fun fall experience! Happy picking!
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LEARN, GROW, AND CONNECT DON’T MISS OUT ON THESE 3 FREE OCTOBER WORKSHOPS
October is National Physical Therapy Month!
Physical therapists are musculoskeletal experts. We help people feel better, move better, and live better.
To celebrate, we are offering the following FREE workshops at our clinic:
Injury Prevention for Runners Thursday, Oct. 12, 6–7 p.m.
The Fourth Trimester: Exercise Tips for New and Experienced Moms Wednesday, Oct. 18, 5–6 p.m.
Prevent Pickleball Injuries Saturday, Oct. 28, 9–10 a.m.
Call (858) 675-1133 to reserve your spot. Space is limited to 20 people per workshop.
See the reverse side for details on each workshop!
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Injury Prevention for Runners This workshop is for new and experienced runners of any age. Learn tips and exercises to prevent future injuries.
Presented by: Dr. John Bunnell, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Running Gait Analyst, and avid runner.
John’s Mission: “I specialize in helping runners of all skill levels eliminate running-related injuries and pain while optimizing their performance to maximize their physical and mental health.”
The Fourth Trimester: Exercise Tips for New and Experienced Moms
Learn how to safely get back to exercise and properly care for yourself while caring for your baby. Discover the best exercises to help you recover the first 12 weeks post-partum and how to manage exercise and breastfeeding. This class benefits anyone having a baby or who just had a baby. Presented by: Dr. Laura Steindorf, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Pelvic Floor Specialist, and mom of 18-month-old Leo. Prevent Pickleball Injuries Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. As it grows, so does the prevalence of pickleball-related injuries. Learn what are the most common pickleball injuries and how to fix them. All attendees will have access to a discounted movement screening to help identify areas at risk for injury. Presented by: Dr. Beth Scalone, Doctor of Physical Therapy and Orthopedic Certified Specialist, and Brooke Fellows, personal trainer and pickleball addict. For more information about Brooke, visit fellowsfitness.com/about.
SPACE IS LIMITED. RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY! CALL US AT (858) 675-1133
(858) 675-1133 · www.waterpt.com
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