DECEMBER 2019
620 Old West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 • 508-528-6100 • www.ProPTinc.com
IF THISWEREYOUR LAST HOLIDAY SEASON,
How Would You Spend It?
families in need during the holidays. Every year, we receive the names of people in a family who we are to “adopt” for the holiday season. We go out, shop for gifts, and hope to make the holidays a little brighter for them. We don’t know who the people are — we only receive their first names — but we know we are doing work to put smiles on faces. It’s amazing how much this act of helping others completely restores the holiday spirit. All of a sudden, the tasks that felt like drudgery are now filled with meaning. The people whom the Santa Foundation supports will feel the impact of gifts in a way most of us are privileged enough to never experience. For most of the people reading this newsletter and those in our community, another winter coat is simply another winter coat. For somebody who is in desperate need of a new coat, though, it’s much more important than that. And because we never meet the people for whom we buy the gifts, none of it is about us. There’s no competition to be the coolest mom/daughter/ aunt/cousin/etc. Instead, it’s simply about the person on the other end, whomever it may be. I have never enjoyed shopping as much as I do in this context. It makes me feel the sense of wonder and hope you get from old movies and TV shows set 50 years ago, where shopping for gifts looks like a magical event in and of itself. Of course, my hypothetical final holidays would also involve plenty of time with family, a good meal, and the little moments that make us remember the value of giving and gratitude. These things, more than a deal on a new TV, are what I want to keep in mind when I think of the most wonderful time of the year. No matter what your holidays include, I hope you have a chance to get at the real spirit of this time of year. It may be harder and
Donations from the Santa Foundation event in 2018
These days, it seems like there are almost as many folks who are exhausted by the holidays as people who are excited for them. And you know what? I totally get it. The period of time from about the second week of October until New Year’s Eve is one of ceaseless commercialism. Every year, the days when we used to spend time with loved ones are now days when we’re expected to buy stuff. Black Friday has broken free of the bonds of time and begins on Thanksgiving. Other parts of the holidays have become conscious parodies of themselves. In 2019, everyone knows their Christmas sweater is hideous. It can all get a little tiring. However, just when it seems like the holidays have lost all their magic, some activity or moment snaps their true meaning and spirit back into focus. For me, and I hope for you too, these experiences cut through all the noise and powdery cocoa in the world. Even when we start drinking pumpkin spice lattes in June and carving jack-o’-lanterns in August, those authentic holiday interactions will remain. Seeking them out can be the difference between a weary December and a cheery one. The way I like to think about it is to ask myself, “If this were my last holiday season, how would I spend it?”
harder to do, but it’s far from impossible. The holiday flame flickers on. It’s up to us to feed it. If you want to do that by helping out the Santa Foundation, call our office to find out how.
Happy holidays, everyone!
One of the first things I’d pick for my final holiday season is our practice’s work with the Santa Foundation, a local charity that provides gifts to
– Dr. Stacey Raybuck Schatz
Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 1
DoYou Have a Story to Tell? Share Your Wisdom in a Memoir
a memoir can be the perfect way to spend your time. As you gain enough distance from life events to grow useful perspectives, the stage is set for self- discovery and transformation. Even more so, your life experiences can give valuable insights to readers of all ages and circumstances. That’s why biographies and memoirs are such popular genres — reading about real people helps others understand the world and how they can live in it. To get started, pick a theme. Ask yourself these questions, “What message do I want to leave with my readers? What do I want them to feel or understand by reading my words?” From there, select anecdotes that support your theme. Make sure they’re clear and cohesive. Then, write like you would a fictional novel or story. Show, don’t tell, and keep readers invested by having a narrative arc, whether it flows chronologically or jumps back and forth in time. Remember, this is not a time to air dirty laundry; it’s a time to reflect, grow, and share your experiences with the world.
The urge to leave behind a legacy is an inherent human instinct. Whether you accomplish this by raising children, building a successful company, or starting a charitable organization, the desire to share your wisdom should not go unfulfilled. If none of these options work for your lifestyle, writing a memoir may be a good option. A memoir not only tells your story but also passes on the wisdom you’ve gained from your many experiences and offers a unique perspective to inspire future generations.
Writing can be a therapeutic exercise at a time when your life may be changing due to retirement or your kids growing up and leaving the house. And because personal reflection is a natural occurrence with age, writing
Patient
of the Month
JUNE JOHNSON ST. JUDE CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL
“I have been contributing to this charity for about 30 years. They not only take care of the children but also work on finding cures. They always work with the families to help them in any way they can. No child is denied treatment based on race, religion, or a family’s inability to pay!” –June June was a joy to treat during her time here. She was able to recover 100% and get back to everything she wanted to do. While she was here, she gave us all plenty of laughs and always brought great energy to the clinic. We are happy June got better, but we will certainly miss her and hope that she stops by to say hi!
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This may not be the last holiday season ever … But it is the LAST CHANCE to use your 2019 health savings account (HSA) benefits. If you’ve already met your deductible, you deserve to take advantage of your benefits. Give yourself the gift of feeling better and living pain-free by using your HSA benefits at Professional Physical Therapy. Turn over this insert for more information!
Your HSA benefits can be used for most physical therapy treatments, including laser therapy with our state-of-the-art class IV medical therapy laser. There’s no better time than right now to focus on your health and wellness. Physical therapy can help you feel better without surgery or medication. Everyone strives to be selfless during the holidays, but when it comes to feeling less pain, we should all feel okay being a little selfish. Call us today to find out how your HSA benefits can be used for YOUR benefit. Professional Physical Therapy 620 Old West Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 508-528-6100
Stocking-Sized Fitness Gifts
To Supplement Anyone’s Workout
ELECTROLYTE DRINK TABLETS The rejuvenating power of electrolyte drinks is now packed into convenient little tablets. With a brand like Nuun, you can replenish your sodium, magnesium, potassium, and calcium by dissolving an 8-calorie tablet in water. They’re made with all-natural ingredients and come in tasty flavors like berry and citrus. Their small tubed packaging makes them easy to slip in your pocket and take anywhere. PROTEIN BARS When in doubt, protein bars are an excellent choice. They’re great for meal replacement, eating on the go, or recovering after a workout. Just make sure you stay away from brands that are high in sugar or too low in fiber and, well, protein. We recommend RXBAR because it has nothing artificial, and it even lists its main ingredients right on the front so you know exactly what you’re getting.
We all know a fitness nut whose stocking is hard to stuff. Instead of sweet treats or silly tchotchkes, gift a few of these small but useful fitness items that will kick their workouts up a notch. RESISTANCE BANDS Latex resistance bands are great for supplementing workout programs like yoga and Pilates, or they can be used for general exercise all on their own. Here at Professional Physical Therapy, we use them for the rehabilitation of our patients every day! They come in a variety of resistance levels, so they’re great no matter where someone is along their fitness journey. Check out brands like Fit Simplify for affordable variety packs. FITDECK EXERCISE PLAYING CARDS Dozens of workouts can now fit into the palm of your hand! These decks of cards contain easy-to-follow instructions for individual exercises on each card. Flip through and let fate determine your workout, and shuffle the deck for a different workout every time. There are a variety of decks for different workouts, like cross-training, Pilates, or sport-specific decks to help improve your game.
SUCCESS STORIES
“The pain in my left shoulder was interfering with daily activities and my quality of life. Putting on shirts hurt, driving hurt, and opening doors hurt. I knew that I could get great help from the team here based upon treatment of a different injury. I did my homework (home exercises) and was treated very well by the entire team here. Thank you for the quality treatment and friendly atmosphere.”
Bacon-Wrapped Chestnuts “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire” is an iconic image of Christmas, but we’re willing to bet most people reading this have never eaten a chestnut. Change that this year with this awesome paleo-friendly appetizer.
–Mike Roche
Ingredients
• •
2 8-oz cans water chestnuts Tamari (wheat-free soy sauce), but can substitute with coconut aminos
• •
1/4 cup coconut sugar
“My age seemed to be catching up with me. I began to feel like I would soon become a senior citizen pushing a walker. It was not a pretty picture considering that I had begun substitute teaching since retiring from Franklin Public School District. My mobility was poor, and I had several accidents falling, which required emergency room treatment. Today, I feel like a new person with greatly improved mobility and balance. It feels great.”
1 lb sliced bacon, quartered
Directions 1. Heat an oven to 400 F.
2. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet lined with parchment and set aside. 3. Drain liquid from canned water chestnuts, add tamari to cover, and let soak for 15 minutes in the cans. 4. Drain tamari, roll each chestnut in coconut sugar, wrap with bacon, and spear on toothpick. 5. Place chestnuts on prepared rack. Bake for 30–35 minutes. 6. Plate and serve.
–Patricia Lomardi
Inspired by “Paleo Happy Hour” by Kelly Milton
Professional Physical Therapy | 508-528-6100 • 3
PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
www.ProPTinc.com 620 Old West Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 508-528-6100
Thank you for being part of the Professional Physical Therapy family!
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
Help for the Holidays Tell Your Story and Share Your Wisdom Patient of the Month Stocking Stuffers for Fitness Fiends Bacon-Wrapped Chestnuts The History Behind Christmas Lights
Why Do We Hang Christmas Lights? LIGHT UP THE NIGHT
Johnson continued this tradition, increasing the number of lights each year and eventually putting them up outside. But because electricity was still a new concept, many years passed before the fad took off for regular Americans. In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge began the tradition of lighting the National Christmas Tree, which spurred the idea of selling stringed lights commercially. By the 1930s, families everywhere were buying boxes of bulbs by the dozen. Today, an estimated 150 million Christmas lights are sold in America each year, decorating 80 million homes and consuming 6% of the nation’s electricity every December. Whether you’ll be putting up your own lights or appreciating the most impressive light displays in your neighborhood or town, let the glow fill you with joy this season. Just don’t leave them up until February!
The first string of twinkling lights illuminating your neighbor’s house is always a telltale sign of the upcoming seasonal festivities. Christmas lights are a holiday staple, but have you ever wondered where this beloved tradition started? The tradition of hanging lights on the tree originally started with candles. Because this posed an immense fire hazard, Edward Hibberd Johnson, a close friend of Thomas Edison and vice president of the Edison Electric Light Company, vowed to find a better way to decorate Christmas trees with light. In December 1882, three years after Edison’s invention of the lightbulb in November 1879, Johnson hand-wired 80 red, white, and blue lightbulbs together and wound them around a Christmas tree in his parlor window. A passing reporter saw the spectacle and declared in the Detroit Post and Tribune, “One can hardly imagine anything prettier.”
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