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DRSladic.com
September 2022
OPEN A DOOR OF ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES By Focusing on What You’re Grateful For
About 20 years ago, I was at an athletic event having a conversation with a friend, and he told me he was planning to take a mental health day that week. “Your company gives you a mental health day?” I asked. I was so shocked. What exactly was a mental health day? How do you know when you need one? Is there pain or a headache? What determinations do you make regarding a mental health day? Maybe I needed one?
make you feel grateful, instead of looking for things that make you sad or cause you anxiety and stress.
Eventually, it’ll open your eyes. If there is something holding you back, keep asking questions about what that is. How did this event or thing serve me and others? Keep asking that until you see how this benefited you or someone else, and you may become grateful for this event and see how it served a purpose in your life. Think of it this way: Let’s say someone gets into a motorcycle accident and won’t ever be able to play sports again. Obviously, they will think this is bad because they loved playing sports. But because of the accident, they decided to attend school to learn about how to heal their own body and become a chiropractor, and now they can serve others. This event would have never opened the door for them, and when you look at it from this angle, you may be able to release that emotional baggage from your life. With every new patient I have, particularly for nutritional care or for those who want to know if their quality of life can improve, we have what’s called a self- assessment form. The last three questions in my assessment form deal with three important things: social isolation, happiness, and a purpose of well-being. If you would like to have this form, contact Denise at (248) 912-2962 and she can mail you an assessment form!
Well, I can’t really take one because I run a business, and there’s no such thing as a day off. But as we have learned and grown as
a society, we talk about mental health a lot more. You cannot be unhappy and healthy. If you’re not grateful, if you have emotional trauma or scars or feel like you don’t belong, it has a direct impact on your health journey. From my own perspective, what is the point of being healthy if you’re unhappy? Everything may be good inside, such as your blood chemistry and body weight, but all of these parameters we can measure objectively don’t bring harmony if you’re not mentally healthy.
For most people — when we talk about mental health days — it has a lot to do with the way they feel about life that comes from fears or baggage they carry with them. They may feel like they did some things wrong and they don’t deserve to be happy. But I’ve worked with people to try to improve their quality of life, and I tell them to start a journal and write down the things that make them genuinely happy. Look for things that
–Dr. Tom Sladic
THOUGHT OF THE MONTH
“Point your attention to what’s positive, possible and abundant, and your life will go in that direction.”
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FIND YOUR BALANCE 5 EXERCISES TO IMPROVE BALANCE
These exercises help with balance.
Though we may not always think about it, balance is essential to just about everything we do in our daily routines. From simply getting out of bed, leaning over to tie our shoes, or even walking to the mailbox, we need good balance to keep ourselves steady while performing normal tasks. Know why balance is important. Balance is the ability to control your body’s position, whether stationary or moving. It is a key component of fitness that many people neglect while developing their fitness regimen. Balance training is a great way to help your body recognize where it is and control movements in a given space. When the body knows where its limbs are in space — known as proprioception — it is able to produce smooth, controlled movements with fewer risks of injuries. Reaction time and agility are also improved with balance training. The body learns how to quickly correct itself but not overcompensate and has the ability to quickly change direction effectively and efficiently. Though balance training is important for everyone, it is especially important for those who have problems due to illness, weakness, or dizziness. It allows them to overcome stiffness or unsteadiness and to develop an awareness of body segments and how to align them.
Balance training involves exercises to strengthen the muscles that help keep you upright and improve stability. These types of exercises can be done as often as you like or even every day.
Consider trying the following exercises:
• Standing with your weight on one leg and raising the other leg to the side or behind you. • Putting one heel right in front of the other foot, as if you were walking a tightrope. • Standing up and sitting down from a chair without using your hands. • Walking while alternating knee lifts with each step. • Stretching and gentle movement as part of yoga or tai chi. Balance is essential to living a healthy, functional life. It’s important to incorporate balance training into your fitness regimen. That way you can decrease the risk of injuries and help move freely and confidently.
LITTLE THINGS CAN MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE Peace of Mind Instills Positive Moods
When something happens in a person’s life, it can be very easy to focus on the negatives. Though not every situation is the same, some are harder than others, and there is always something positive — even small or minuscule — you can hold on to. You can use a variety of different tactics to improve your mood, all while keeping yourself mentally and physically healthy. Writing Things Down One of the simplest habits you can incorporate into your daily routine is journaling. When people become overwhelmed or anxious, it can be easier to focus if they write about what’s weighing on them and explore their feelings about it. Spill your mind on a piece of paper until there is nothing left.
prioritize, circle them, highlight them — do whatever you need to focus on those tasks at hand. That way you don’t have to rush to get it done as fast as you can and can avoid overloading yourself. Walking When you go on a walk, your brain releases endorphins that can improve your mood tenfold. Have you ever noticed how after people work out, they all of a sudden start talking up a storm like they’ve had a few cups of coffee? You can even double-dose it by walking with a family member or friend. The feeling of being connected with another person and exercising are great for your mood and overall health. Expressing Gratitude Gratitude has always been associated with feelings of happiness. It helps people feel
more positive emotions and relish those good experiences. The best part about it is there are so many different ways to do it! One way is through self-appreciation, and a great way to start is to practice saying a few good things about yourself. It may be awkward or difficult at first, but when you continually do it, over time it will come much easier. You can also tune in to Dr. Tom Sladic’s conference call at (712) 432-8774 (conference ID code: 25555, sharing ID number: 111918) to learn more ways to show and express gratitude. We oftentimes forget that making minor changes in our daily routines is all it takes to help us improve our moods. When it comes to mental wellness, sometimes the small, manageable changes can have the biggest impact.
You can also write down a to-do list for the week, and for the tasks you have to
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Amazon driver makes the sweetest delivery. While delivering, Wilmar noticed an older woman wandering around on the street. Because of her age and the fact that she was alone, he knew something wasn’t right. “I was delivering and I saw this older lady walking by,” Wimar said. “She waved at me, which isn’t an odd occurrence, people wave at you all the time as an Amazon driver. But she was waving at me like something happened.” LIFT YOUR SPIRITS Through Acts of Service for the Community
NO-FUSS CHICKEN SOUP
Fall is almost here, so it’s time to break out the soup! Your family is sure to love this recipe — it’s a classic.
Ingredients
• 2 tbsp olive oil • 1 onion, chopped • 2 garlic cloves, minced • 3 carrots, sliced • 3 celery ribs, sliced • 2 chicken bouillon cubes • 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• 1/4 tsp pepper • 4 cups chicken broth • 4 cups water • 1 1/4 lbs bone-in, skinless chicken thighs • Salt, to taste
Grandma Gigi — a 92-year-old with Alzheimer’s disease — had wandered away from home.
Wilmar’s instinct kicked in, and immediately stopped his van to check on her. Thankfully, she was wearing her medical alert bracelet, and Wimar saw that she lived nearby. After contacting her granddaughter, Wilmar was able to drive Gigi back home. The granddaughter, Karen, expressed her gratitude to Wilmar for looking out for her grandmother. “I felt that Wilmar went above and beyond,” Karen said. “I think it’s very important that the community looks out for one another,” Wilmar explained. “If something happens, see something, say something. You just wanna make sure that your neighbors are safe, and everybody’s happy. It benefits all as long as we’re all contributing.” Class builds bus shelter for wheelchair-bound student. A high school construction class has quietly worked on charitable projects to benefit their community for more than two decades. But that changed when a dozen students banded together to build a bus shelter for Ryder, an elementary student who is wheelchair-bound. His father, Tim, was searching for a solution to shelter Ryder from the harsh weather while he waited at the bus stop. A Facebook post caught the attention of a local guidance counselor, who forwarded it to Tim and suggested he reach out to Dan McKena. The students got to work, and the end result was an ADA- compliant hut perfect for Ryder. Tim was blown away by the outpouring of support from the students and the community. “[It] makes loading and unloading on the bus flawless,” Tim said. “The size is perfect … we are able to be inside with him. Ryder can be anxious, so having one of us with him is so important.” By incorporating these types of projects, “not only are they learning to use the tools and equipment, but they’re also learning how to be a part of their community,” McKena said.
Directions
1. In a large pot over medium-high heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onion and garlic and sauté for 5 minutes. Add the carrots and celery, then sauté for 1 more minute. 2. Add the bouillon, parsley, pepper, chicken broth, and water. Stir, then add the chicken thighs. 3. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 30 minutes. Stir, cover, and simmer for 15 more minutes. 4. Remove the pot from the heat and transfer the chicken to a large bowl. Shred the meat and add it back to the soup. Discard the bones. 5. Stir, salt, and serve!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. How Mental Health Impacts Your Health Journey
2. Balance Training Key to Quality Movement
Small Habits to Improve Your Mood
3. No-Fuss Chicken Soup
Feel-Good Stories to Improve Your Mood
4. DIY Fall Scavenger Hunt for the Family
READY, SET, SCAVENGE! Explore What Autumn Offers
As the leaves begin to fall and the air becomes cooler, it is a sure sign that summer is slowly coming to an end. Though we will miss the pool parties and backyard barbecues, there is still lots to look forward to during fall. Autumn is known as the season of change, and getting the kids outside allows them to understand and explore the changes going on in the world around them. Creating a fall scavenger hunt is a great way for kids to practice their reading and observation skills, all while still enjoying the outdoors. Signs of Fall Creating a specific scavenger hunt for signs of autumn is a great way to enhance your child’s observation skills. Consider the following for your signs of fall hunt: 1. Leaves that have changed colors 2. Tree seeds or pine cones that have fallen to the ground 3. Items from a fall harvest (like pumpkins, sunflowers, or hay bales)
4. Changes among people’s apparel (such as jackets, hats, and scarves) 5. Animals hibernating or migrating Fall Color Wheel The best way to explore autumn’s colors is by creating a fall color wheel hunt! Since the leaves are the surest signs of fall, kids
can compare and contrast the different colors of each leaf they find, making this a fun hands-on activity.
You can either download a color wheel template from the internet or make one yourself! All you need is a piece of paper that’s big enough for kids to tape the leaves onto and different areas for the colors red, yellow, orange, and brown. This will help kids see the different kinds of leaves as well as their visual changes during the season.
The weather is getting colder, but it doesn’t mean you have to hibernate too! Bundle up with a cozy sweater and beanie, and encourage the family to get outside to explore all of the wonderful changes autumn has to offer.
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