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360
MARCH 2021
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THE NEW LUCKY I’m in the middle of working on corporate taxes on our most recent snowpocolypse (snowpalooza? snowmageddon?) and was on the phone with my accountant, who was also working from home with elementary kiddo and two puppies in the background. I asked about the puppies and was met with an explanation that they had wanted a puppy and an older dog, and after six months with the first puppy and not being able to get an older dog, they accepted another puppy to add to their family (with a “what the hell, why not …”). It got me thinking about something that comes out of my mouth often these days: the upside of the pandemic. There are a lot of things lately that fall in the category of “in normal times, this would never be viable, but …,” followed by some discomfort-pushing action — like trying to train two puppies at the same time. Just after I got off the phone with the accountant, I noticed my neighbor across the street going back and forth across his neighbor’s driveway. I looked closer, to see he’s got their 6-month-old baby in a front carrier, and 2 year old falling in snow nearby, with a mostly one-handed shoveling technique. I’m sure our elderly neighbors were very appreciative, and I thought again, in normal times, that’s a challenging load right there! I sent a kudos group text to my neighbor and his wife to discover he was simply glad to get out of the house, and his wife had a virtual clinic to run and was sad to miss the fun. Luck takes lots of forms, mostly led by our mindset. Things can be both awful AND great. It doesn’t have to be one or the other; it can co-exist in the same space, at the same time. I am so over the moon grateful to have gotten our puppy pre-pandemic (barely). I remember the first month, thinking that my already overflowing workload had increased by over 25% by adding a puppy. It was hard to fit in all the things as it was, and harder with a new, still insecure, pup. Now though? An hour and half of my day is spent walking the dog — time I really didn’t have before, gifted to me by virtue of the pandemic. Those are some of the most quiet
and useful parts of my day right now. I am grateful to have that time. Certainly, that time comes at the cost of in-person work, but at the moment, that’s okay, and I graciously accept and am appreciative of the gift. I shared this Vivian Greene quote with my daughter recently: “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning how to dance in the rain.” It’s so easy to see what is taken away from us, along with what is uncomfortable, distressing, and downright hard. It’s less easy to see that it can be both hard AND … any number of other positive and wonderful things. For me, that’s time with my kiddo, being able to support her through a really hard season of her young life, getting a handle on meal planning (for once), and keeping my eye on the prize — sharing positives wherever I can, with whomever I can, because how I spend my energy matters. What has the pandemic gifted you? Is it bringing out your inner baker? Have you discovered a love of knitting you didn’t know you had? Have you hiked and explored areas you didn’t have time for in “the before times”? Have you learned to take care of your body as well as or better than you’d care for your car? My wish for you is that you turn that question around to see where the presents are and dive in. We’re all pretty lucky in some way; seeing and embracing it in the presence of adversity is where a fumble turns, instead, into a Samba. Shelly Coffman
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GET YOUR SEASONAL ALLERGIES BEFORE THEY GET YOU!
Spring brings with it many wonderful things, like longer days, picturesque scenery, and spring break, but right alongside those good things is something most people suffer from: allergies. While beautiful, the blooming trees and flowers make you want to stay away from the great outdoors for fear of nonstop sneezing or puffy, watery eyes. If you suffer from allergies caused by pollen, grass, or other spring plants, take these steps to breathe a little easier. When outside, avoid walking through areas with weeds, shrubbery, or lots of trees as much as possible. Grass and weeds are notably problematic. The slightest breeze can send particles flying through the air in the blink of an eye. When you walk through grassy areas, pollen will get on you, your clothes, and your hair. It’s best to stick to trails, sidewalks, and other paved areas. If you do find yourself inundated with pollen or other allergens, your next best bet is to establish an at-home decontamination protocol. Take your shoes off at the door and make sure your clothes don’t come in contact with soft surfaces such as carpet, upholstery, or bedding. Take care to wash your “pollinated” clothes as soon as possible and wash your sheets and pillowcases weekly. Next, head for the shower. The sooner you can wash away the allergens, the better.
Finally, don’t forget to replace the air filter in your home’s air system in the spring. Consider using an air filter designed to capture allergens. If your allergies are particularly troublesome, invest in a dedicated air filtration system or unit. While you can opt for portable, stand-alone air purifiers, there are larger systems that can be incorporated into your heating and air system that keep your entire home’s air free from most, if not all, common allergens.
Could an Electric Bike Replace Your Second Family Car?
other car with my wife when needed. Or just take an Uber. I love the two electric bikes that I own and ride them religiously to do errands within 5 miles of the house.” What if your trek is longer than 5 miles? It’s tricky to say precisely how far a rider can go on a fully charged battery because an e-bike’s range is affected by speed and terrain. At a minimum, riders can expect to go 30 miles roundtrip without a problem. Some bikes can travel up to 100 miles on a single charge, and, as with electric cars, the technology improves every year. If range is less of a concern than speed, swapping a car for an e-bike may mean slower speeds and longer travel times, but not always. Top speeds vary by model and brand, but many get up to 20–30 mph. Also, you’ll save time by avoiding traffic and having to look for parking. There are, of course, some drawbacks. Highly rated e-bikes come with a hefty price tag — $1,200 at the low end and over $7,000 at the high end — which can be more than a good used car. They’re also heavy, which is bad news for anyone who needs to bring theirs up a flight of stairs. Finally, depending on where you live, e-bikes might not be a viable option for year-round riding. The bottom line is that if you’re looking to decrease your car- ownership costs, an e-bike might be a viable alternative worth looking into.
The U.S. has the most extensive road system in the world, so it probably comes as no surprise that U.S. households have two cars (1.88, to be exact) on average. This number has remained relatively steady since 2001, but in the last year, many people began to reconsider their driving habits in light of the pandemic. With professionals working from home and students schooling remotely, many family cars stayed parked in the driveway. While this helped save on fuel costs, car owners still had to pay for insurance, maintenance, and registration, which left some people wondering if owning two vehicles was necessary.
Enter the electric bike (e-bike), an eco-friendly alternative, especially for those in two-car households.
Forbes contributor Scott Kramer traded his second family car for an e-bike in late 2019 and says he has no regrets. “I can share our
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IMPROVE PATIENCE AND REDUCE STRESS
WITH THESE 4 TIPS
In this fast-paced world, it can be easy to grow impatient. Things as small as waiting for a slow website to load or waiting in a long line for coffee can sometimes leave people feeling frustrated and anxious. Practicing patience helps reduce stress and helps you realize it’s okay if something takes a few extra minutes. If you find yourself feeling impatient, here are a few helpful tips. Breathe Deeply When you feel stressed, your breathing gets shallow, which amplifies anxiety. Practicing deep breathing can help reduce stress and frustration by relaxing your body and mind. This is as simple as taking a few quiet moments to inhale through the nose, drawing your breath into the belly and lungs. Count to four to help you focus as you inhale. Then exhale slowly through your mouth. After a few repetitions, you will find that your mind and body feel calmer. Switch Focus When agitated, it’s common for our thoughts to center on the irritant. Though it may feel difficult to do when you’re stressed out, switching your focus will help you calm down and be more patient. For instance, if you find yourself growing more and more frustrated by hitting red lights as you drive, try focusing on green instead. Looking for passing cars, signs, trees, or anything that is green will help break that hyper-focus and shift it from negative to positive. Soon, those red lights will be less bothersome.
Meditate A great way to increase your patience is by meditating, a combination of the first two tips — focus and breathing. Meditation helps people constructively manage thoughts by allowing them to practice observing their thoughts from a neutral perspective. Regular meditation can reduce stress and improve patience throughout the day. Even just 5–10 minutes of daily practice can have a tremendous impact over time. Practice Acceptance While the above tips can help you improve your patience, sometimes you must simply accept that some things can’t be rushed. There will be times when we cannot control the outcome: A red light will change to green when it changes and no sooner. Learning to accept that can help people let go of their frustration, become more understanding of their situation, and greatly improve their patience.
Inspired by AmbitiousKitchen.com GREEN GODDESS SMOOTHIE
If you’re looking to get your green on, why not try this light smoothie?
INGREDIENTS • 1 1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk • 1 organic apple, peeled and chopped • 1 medium frozen banana
• 1 1/2 cups fresh organic spinach • 1 tbsp chia seeds • 1/2 medium avocado
DIRECTIONS 1. In a large, high-
3. If necessary, add more almond milk to thin the smoothie. 4. Serve immediately and enjoy!
powered blender, add all ingredients.
2. Blend on high for 1–2 minutes, or until all ingredients are well combined.
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
The New Lucky Page 1
Get Your Seasonal Allergies Before They Get You!
Could an Electric Bike Replace Your Second Family Car? Page 2
How to Be More Patient and Less Stressed
Green Goddess Smoothie Page 3
Need to Heal? Check Your Mind First! Page 4
MIND OVER MATTER HOW YOUR EMOTIONS AFFECT YOUR HEALING
When combating pain, patients tend to think physically. They recognize how much the pain hurts them or hinders their ability to do what they love, and they focus on the physical ways this can be improved. However, researchers have found that this isn’t the only way to deal with and overcome pain. Psychological researchers have discovered that merely thinking about a time when you were happy, sad, or scared, can cause a real, visceral reaction from your body. You can begin to sweat and experience a faster heartbeat when you recall that time you were scared, or you can genuinely smile or laugh as you remember a pleasant memory with a loved one. That same idea can be applied to healing from a physical injury, too. According to researchers at Harvard University, being in a constant state of anxiety, stress, or depression — as is common when experiencing an injury — only heightens your body’s fight or flight response. This raises your blood pressure and inflammation, resulting in increased pain. Essentially, your body is trying to survive and is working overtime to succeed. It’s compensating for the area in pain, and all energies are going into what’s wrong, rather than preventing other issues. This is the mind-body connection, and it has a common effect on patients healing from injuries, cardiac events, major surgeries, and other medical events. Without proper intervention, diminished mental stamina can wreak havoc on your body. It’s vital that you
prioritize your mental health as you heal from an injury, and you can start with these three tips. Keep a Journal: It might sound cheesy to write down your thoughts each day, but a journal can be the tool you need to pinpoint specific stressors. You might find you have a consistent diminished mood in the early afternoon or after interacting with a coworker. By identifying these triggers, you can better combat them. Find Social Support: Life’s better with someone by your side, isn’t it? Find and surround yourself with people who motivate you most. Ensure your circle has people you can trust, vent to, and who are honest and supportive. Seek Professional Help: A physical therapist can help you find the relief you need physically, while a psychiatric therapist can help you navigate your emotions and mental hurdles in overcoming this pain. Therapy is not just for those with diagnosed conditions. It can help you sort out your emotions and develop healthy coping mechanisms for improved well-being. Recovering from pain is never an easy road so don’t be your own worst enemy. Our team is here to support you during your physical journey, be the cheerleaders you need mentally, and offer any suggestions we can to increase your mental well-being. Just ask us how!
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