December, 2015 – FREE Cupcake Day
Join us on Wednesday, Dec. 9th for FREE Cupcake Day / Reader Appreciation Day for our Around Wellington subscribers! Stop by at Johnson’s Custom Cakes in Kobosko’s Crossing in Wellington from 1pm to 5pm. One cupcake per person who shows up (in person). While supplies last. Three easy ways to get your FREE cupcake (see the fine print of this certificate). Thanks and see you soon!
Yummy Treats
Heavenly CrockPot Chicken
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat, and stir in the salad dressing mix, mushroom soup, cream cheese, and wine until the sauce mixture is hot, smooth and well combined. Place the chicken breasts into the bottom of a slow cooker, and pour the sauce mixture over the chicken. Cover and cook on Low setting until chicken is tender, about 4 hours. Serve with a green vegetable and pasta (or rice).
December, 2105- JANUARY BRINGS CLAYS AND PONIES TO PLACE OF HOPE’S
FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
Palm Beach Gardens – November 30, 2015 – In January 2016, Place of Hope will invite guests to a new event celebrating polo, and welcome back teams ready to test their skills against flying clays.
On January 17, 2016, Place of Hope Polo Day will be the first time that friends and supporters will enjoy an exciting polo match at the International Polo Club, 3667 120th Avenue South in Wellington, FL 33414. The day will begin with a lavish brunch and silent auction at 1:30 p.m. Music and dancing will follow the 3 p.m. match.
Place of Hope Polo Day is proudly chaired by Mr. Joseph and Dr. Martha Pietrafesa and Mrs. Sarah L. Pietrafesa. Tickets are $135, and sponsorship opportunities are available at the $5,000; $3,500 and $2,500 levels. To learn more, visit http://www.placeofhope.com/portal/polo-day or contact Amyleigh Atwater at AmyleighA@placeofhope.com; 561-775-7195.
Place of Hope is also forming teams for its fourth annual Sporting Clays Fun Shoot, a recreational fundraiser that combines the competition of clay shooting with supporting foster children in our community. The Fun Shoot will begin with registration at 7:30 a.m. on January 22, 2016, at the South Florida Shooting Club, 500 SW Long Drive, Palm City, FL 34990.
Sponsored by BMO Private Bank; Cheney Brothers; Palmdale Oil Company; Palm Beach Kennel Club; The Kitchen Strand; Professional Image; Cummings & Lockwood, LLC; Be A Man Buy Land; Thomas A. Buhr; J. W. Fire & Sprinkler; Gunster Law Offices; Dunkin’ Donuts; Mike Burke; JPJ Investments; Domnick Law; Integrated Data Technologies, Inc.; and Chick-Fil-A, the event is co-chaired by Mike Dyer and Mike Burke.
Tickets are $1,250 for an individual team of four and $2,000 for a corporate team of four. For more information, visit www.placeofhope.com/portal/sporting-clays-fun-shoot or please contact Rachel Gaydosh at RachelG@placeofhope.com; 561-775-7195.
About Place of Hope:
Place of Hope was ranked the #1 Nonprofit for Youth Development, Shelter, and Crisis Services in the Nation by Charity Navigator and one of the “11 Top-Rated Charities That Changed The World In 2014” by The Huffington Post. It is a faith-based, state-licensed children’s organization that provides family-style foster care (emergency and long-term); family outreach and intervention; maternity care; safety for domestic minor sexually trafficked victims; transitional housing and support services; foster care recruitment and support; hope and healing opportunities for children and families who have been traumatized by abuse and neglect. For more information, visit www.placeofhope.com.
December, 2015- Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:
Phantom of the Opera Star Davis Gaines to Co-Headline Willy Bietak’s BROADWAY ON ICE with Olympic Skating Champions Meryl Davis and Charlie White, December 22-23, 2015
Tickets on Sale Now for Glittering Musical Extravaganza
(West Palm Beach, FL – November 27, 2015) The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts today announced that Phantom of the Opera star Davis Gaines is set to co-headline with
Olympic Gold Medalists Meryl Davis and Charlie White in Willy Bietak’s Broadway on Ice. The glittering musical spectacle will have three performances, December 22-23, at the Kravis Center.
The internationally, critically acclaimed Broadway On Ice musical extravaganza, created and produced by Willy Bietak, is a celebration of beauty, grace and artistry of figure skating, embraced by the magic of the Broadway Musicals. The show features a dazzling cast of international skating champions, singers, acrobats and musical artists, performing to memorable songs of such Broadway hits as West Side Story, Rent, Phantom of the Opera, Chicago and A Chorus Line among others.
Davis Gaines has headlined more than 2.000 times as the star of Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, in Los Angeles, San Francisco where he won the Bay Area Critics’ Award, and at the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in Washington, DC among others. In addition, he has starred in a number of other Broadway and National Touring Musical productions including, Hello Dolly, Camelot, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and most recently starred in the musical production of Kiss Me Kate at the Civic Arts Plaza in Thousand Oaks, CA.
Broadway on Ice co-headliners Meryl Davis and Charlie White, the amazing American Ice Dancing Champions of the 2014 Olympics, will be showcasing their prize winning choreography and dancing synchronization, recently featured on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. The skating duo that thrilled international audiences with their unique artistry on ice currently holds the world record for the ice skating short dance, free dance and total combined score.
The stage of the Kravis Center’s Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr. Concert Hall will be transformed into a spectacular ice rink for this production. Tickets start at $30 and the performance is being presented with support from CBS12.
How to Get Tickets:
Advance tickets for Broadway on Ice are available for purchase at the Kravis Center’s box office, 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in downtown West Palm Beach; online through the Kravis Center’s official website at kravis.org; or by phone at 561-832-7469 or 800-572-8471. For Group Sales, please call 561-651-4438 or 561-651-4304.
About the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:
The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international artists and companies of the highest quality; by offering comprehensive arts education programs; by providing a Palm Beach County home in which local and regional arts organizations can showcase their work; and by providing economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County.
The Kravis Center is located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach, FL. For more information, please call 561-832-7469 or visit the Kravis Center’s official website at kravis.org.
December, 2015- Professor Paul Robbins, Ph.D. from Scripps Florida
Speaks at Wycliffe Country Club about
Latest Research and Advancements in Aging
Wellington & Jupiter, FL- (November 24, 2015) Nearly 100 residents of Wycliffe Country Club in Wellington gathered for an informative presentation by Professor Paul Robbins, Ph.D., Department of Metabolism and Aging at Scripps Florida.
Dr. Robbins explained that the goal to find a cure for aging is to extend health span, not lifespan. He shared with the audience his labs research focus: the pathways important for driving autoimmune and inflammatory disease as well as age related degeneration are surprisingly similar.
The Robbins laboratory is developing new approaches to treat autoimmune (type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis), inflammatory (inflammatory bowel disease, delayed type hypersensitivity) and age-related degenerative diseases using biologics and small molecules. He also discussed the many different therapeutic approaches being developed including adult stem cells and identification of drugs able to reverse cellular aging.
Scripps Florida visits many local gated communities in Palm Beach County to educate the community about the world-renowned scientists and ground-breaking research coming out of Scripps Florida. For more information, please contact Stephanie Langlais at 561.228.2551 or email slanglai@scripps.edu.
About The Scripps Research Institute:
The Scripps Research Institute is one of the world’s largest independent, not-for-profit organizations focusing on research in the biomedical sciences. Over the past decades, Scripps Research has developed a lengthy track record of major contributions to science and health, including laying the foundation for new treatments for cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, and other diseases. The institute employs about 3,000 people on its campuses in La Jolla, CA, and Jupiter, FL, where its renowned scientists—including two Nobel laureates—work toward their next discoveries. The institute’s graduate program, which awards Ph.D. degrees in biology and chemistry, ranks among the top ten of its kind in the nation. For more information, see www.scripps.edu.
Mayor’s Column
December Mayor’s Column
This is one of my favorite times of the year. As we prepare for the holiday season, I am looking forward to the many family and community events ahead. This year is 20 times as special, as we ring in the New Year celebration it is Wellington’s 20th Anniversary, also.
One of the best parts of living in Wellington is enjoying our family focused holiday events. This year, the Village kicks off the season with our annual Holiday tree lighting ceremony on Saturday, December 5th starting at 7:00 pm at the Amphitheater. After the ceremony, enjoy the sounds of “The Cool Yule Band” beginning at 7:30 pm. Stop by the Amphitheater on Sunday, December 6th for a performance of The Velveteen Rabbit starring the Wellington Ballet Theatre. The show begins at 7:30 pm.
Marching in on the heels of this performance, join me at the 32nd Annual Holiday Parade on Sunday, December 13, starting at 1:30 pm. Enjoy this festive day with a judged parade of imaginative floats created by school bands, local organizations, baton twirlers, and the biggest celebrity of all, Santa Claus. The route begins at Wellington Trace and continues down Forest Hill Boulevard, ending at the Wellington Amphitheater.
The Amphitheater transforms into a Winter Wonderland on Saturday, December 19. This year’s spectacular will be an unforgettable holiday performance set to the theme of Disney’s “Frozen” along with fabulous holiday music. The show features professional performers, singers, dancers, and some of your favorite holiday characters. Santa Claus himself will be stopping by for a visit. Join the fun beginning at 7:30 pm.
It is easy to see why Wellington is named “Equestrian Capital of the World.” The holiday season heralds the return of our winter residents, both people and horses. There are more cars on our roads and more horses everywhere. It is a time for increased caution, especially as we get closer to the Holidays, and the beginning of the winter equestrian season. If you haven’t done so already, take a look at our latest Wellington Minute video by clicking on this link: http://bit.ly/216kGG7 PBSO’s Captain Jay Hart shares tips on staying safe on our roads this season. Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel to see more videos and stay up to date on the latest around Wellington.
Winter break for our schools begins Monday, December 21. That means more children out enjoying our Great Hometown. Remember to watch out for our 
youngest residents and take a little extra time to be aware of your surroundings on the road.
Safety doesn’t stop at your driveway. Christmas tree fires are responsible for untold damages, injuries and even deaths every year. If you’re using a live tree water it daily to keep it moist and remember to keep it away from open flames and heat sources. The greatest gift you can give our local firefighters is a day off.
Let’s not forget that the Holidays are a time of giving as well as receiving. By all means, visit Wellington’s fine shops and find that perfect gift for your loved ones. But remember to take some time to help our neighbors in need. This year, you can make a child’s holiday brighter by participating in the Hometown Holiday Toy Drive. Drop off your unwrapped toys by December 18th at the Wellington Community Center, Village Hall, Parks and Recreation, the Lake Wellington Professional Centre, any Fire Rescue station, Goddard School, Bright Horizons, and Ultima Fitness.
Finally, on Thursday, December 31st, we say goodbye to 2015 and Happy Birthday to Wellington! Join me and the rest of Council as we kick off a year-long celebration of Wellington’s incorporation anniversary with “Breakfast on the Green.” The event takes place at the Amphitheater from 9:00 am through 11:00 am. It is free and open to the public. Attendees are invited to savor breakfast and refreshments as they enjoy the sounds of live music.
Writing this column and sharing a few of the ways that we can both gather and give as a community this holiday season is one more blessing I can count in my own life. I am very grateful for the privilege of serving as your Mayor. The past year has been filled with many accomplishments. I want to personally thank the volunteers, members of our boards and commissions, Village staff, and Council members for their dedication. In the New Year, I resolve to do my part to make Wellington a great place to live.
I want to wish you and yours a Happy Hanukkah, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and many blessings in the year to come.
***
Bob Margolis, recently elected as Mayor of the Village of Wellington, was first appointed to the Village Council in April of 2003, and was then elected to a four-year term in March, 2004. Prior to that initial appointment, he had proven his community spirit many times over by a long list of community endeavors and volunteer efforts.
AW Spotlight
The Kids Wonder Lab – Bringing Coding, Robotics and Engineering to Kids
By Sabeen Faquir
Well, I am here to tell you the Kids Wonder Lab is STEM focused. This means there will be an emphasis of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math education. It will be meant for a wide range of ages (from Pre-K to middle school). You may remember The Lab, which used to be at the very spot the Kids Wonder Lab is opening; The Lab covered more biological interests, while the Kids Wonder Lab will have a more tech-driven curriculum. For example, they will teach coding, robotics and engineering.
At the Kids Wonder Lab, there will be an emphasis on collaborative problem-solving and innovation. They will offer a series of clubs in robotics, engineering, and rocketry. Within the clubs, the children will break out into groups and meet challenges. Through assigned activities they will be taught collaboration skills. They will learn conflict resolution, consensus, and that the final product is the product of everyone’s participation.
So how did founders Heather and Erich Landstrom think of opening the Kids Wonder Lab? Heather was a middle school math teacher and her husband Erich is a high school physics teacher. Erich also has experience in a planetarium and museum. Previously, he has performed outreach for NASA. For NASA, it was his responsibility to educate the public about NASA’s missions through teacher training and public events.
Together, the couple had thought about opening a learning center like the Kids Wonder Lab for years. They even contemplated a home business bringing
their hands-on experiments to schools, but got the opportunity to get a space for their learning center. The pair collaborated in the following way: Erich forms program development for the Kids Wonder Lab, which could include anything from engineering challenges, like bridge building, rockets and Mindstorm robotics, while Heather designs the program for the younger members of the Kids Wonder Lab around different science topics each week. They design their educational programs so that students are not just sitting at a table and listening, but keeping active!
There will even be ecology programming. The family feels that while living in South Florida, teaching children about the local flora and fauna and how to preserve them is essential. Barbara even demonstrated to me a project on the life cycle of a butterfly. The curriculum on ecology will include climate change, sea-level rise, and recycling. Heather and Erich have an 11-year-old daughter, Lily, who loves to be outdoors. From the influence of her parents, she has learned to write code, build robots, and enjoys rockets. The Landstrom family also gives back to the community. They are active in beach cleanups and volunteer with a soup kitchen. They also volunteer with Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful for the International Coastal Cleanup every fall. For part of their celebration, they choose locations to clean up for the benefit of the environment and community. This year, the Landstroms picked up trash at Pinehurst Trail.
With their experience in the educational system, the Landstroms feel they are ready to give back to the community by opening the Kids Wonder Lab. Heather feels working towards standardized tests kills innovation. She gave me the example of Bill Gates, who dropped out of the college. She wants the Kids Wonder Lab to be a place that will encourage natural innovation, a place where children can explore their curiosity and wonder why. At the Kids Wonder Lab, children will have mentor-ship, state-of-the-art materials, and a space to innovate.
Kids Wonder Lab
10101 Lantana Road, Suite G
Lake Worth, FL 33449
(561) 249-0798
Travel with Terri
Eat, Drink and Be Merry in New Orleans
Story and Photos by Terri Marshall
If there were ever a time of year to eat, drink and be merry it’s now. And there is no place that embraces this concept better than New Orleans. All year long New Orleans brings us legendary music, creole traditions, delicious cuisine, and plenty of reasons to celebrate. When the holiday season rolls around you can count on New Orleans to up the joy quotient. Let’s head down to New Orleans this month to join the party.
Eating
It is virtually impossible to walk around New Orleans hungry. Food is literally everywhere. Start the day with Beignets and Chicory coffee at the ever popular Café Du Monde. Established in 1862, Café Du Monde serves the square French-style doughnuts lavishly covered with powdered sugar three at a time for triple the goodness. Warning, these things are addictive!
At lunch, head over to Central Grocery – the birthplace of the Muffuletta. The Po-boy might be New Orleans most famous sandwich, but the Muffuletta is a sandwich to be reckoned with. Invented in the early 20th century to feed hungry Sicilian farmers selling their wares in the French Market, these Italian sandwiches are stuffed with cured meats and cheeses on dense round Sicilian bread that is generously slathered with spicy olive salad. Central Grocery’s Muffulettas can be ordered by quarter, half, or whole because these sandwiches are approximately the size of a tire. Keep that in mind when ordering because you will want to save some of your appetite for a traditional feast at a Reveillon dinner.
Started in the early 1800s by the Creoles, the Reveillon dinner was a big family meal served after returning home from midnight mass. In French, New Orleans’ original language, the word “reveillon” means “awakening” and the dinners were a way of breaking the daylong religious fast leading up to Christmas Eve. Although it had largely died out by World War II, restaurateurs in New Orleans revived it in the 1990s and today several restaurants around town offer their own versions of the Reveillon dinner. Meals are typically four or five courses and offered as a prix fix menu and feature each restaurant’s specialties like turtle soup, oyster gumbo and lavish desserts. The Reveillon tradition is most commonly enjoyed by local families and friends gathered around a large table in an old French Quarter restaurant or reserving one of the small private dining rooms they offer. And when you’re in town, you can join the locals to experience this delicious tradition. And if I were you, I would be sure to order white chocolate bread pudding for dessert.
Drinking
What better way to give your holiday spirit a boost than with a holiday libation or two? There’s no question New Orleans can deliver a great cocktail any time of year, but for a special reveillon drinks menu, Galatoire’s 33 is the place to go. Master mixologists deliver holiday classics along with cocktails like the St. Nick’s Shandy and the Peppermint Patty. Not to miss is the Brandy Milk Punch with a touch of nutmeg to boosts its holiday appeal.
For a special experiential cocktail hour Bourbon O is the place to visit. Master mixologist Cheryl Charming has invented a drinks program that reflects a sense of whimsy and creativity and her holiday specials deliver the goods. Not to miss is Rachel’s Naughty Can Be Nice Nog, a made from scratch Egg Nog infused with Milagro tequila and Amontillado sherry. That should take you right to merry!
Making Merry
Eating and drinking in New Orleans certainly makes things merry, but I think we need to add a little music and fire to the mix. Who can imagine a holiday season without music? Whether it be traditional Christmas carols or silly tunes about grandmas getting run over by reindeer, music is an integral part of the holiday season. And New Orleans delivers plenty of fantastic music experiences. On Jackson Square in the heart of the French Quarter, the historic St. Louis Cathedral is host to a holiday concert series. The city offers up some of its best jazz, gospel, pop and classical music in hour long concerts. Performances are free and open to the public. There have been as many as fifteen individual concerts between the beginning of December and Christmas in recent years.
And for the fire, head out to Oak Alley Plantation for a bonfire on the levee. A local tradition dating long before the levees were built, bonfires guided family and friends coming off the river as they looked for the inlet or slip belonging to their loved-one’s home. Local folklore also tells of additional bonfires lit on Christmas Eve to help guide Papa Noel.
At Oak Alley, a brass quintet leads the traditional parade up the mansion’s illuminated alley to the levee for the lighting of the bonfire and caroling right on the banks of the Mississippi River. Afterwards, the party continues at the mansion with dining, cocktails and dancing.
Follow your joy to New Orleans this holiday season – eat, drink and be very merry!
For more information on New Orleans Holiday Traditions visit http://holiday.neworleansonline.com
***
Terri is a New York City based writer who is happiest when she’s globetrotting and loves bringing stories of her adventures to her readers. She is the Globetrotting Grandmom for TravelingMom.com, the National Chocolate Examiner for Examiner.com, Special Projects Editor for TravelSquire.com, and a contributor to several other publications. You can learn more about Terri and her work at www.trippingwithterri.com. Connect with Terri on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TrippingwithTerri or on Twitter @trippingwterri .
Cultural Corner
December, Modern Dance and Japanese Art
By Angela Shaw
December is here and the cultural fare Around Wellington is abundant. Seems everywhere I turn beauty abounds. Art, dance and music surprise and await admiration and enjoyment.
My first cultural surprise occurred in a modest church, just north of the Norton. One Sunday morning, while reporting to my accompanying post, I passed its warm brick facade, (bricks actually salvaged from the chimneys of the historic Royal Poinciana hotel), walked through the solid wooden doors to find a roomful of modern Japanese artwork greeting me. Seems Memorial Presbyterian’s pastor, Randy Bare, a serious art enthusiast, was responsible for the exhibit by Sadao Watanabe .
And what an exhibit it is!
Watanabe (1913-1996) specialized in a stencil and dying technique that he learned from fabric dyeing masters in his home country of Japan. He applied the method, called katazome to special paper instead of fabric; kozo (paper made form mulberry trees) and the roughly textured momigami (kneaded paper). Seasonally appropriate, his works focus on biblical themes. Shown here is his Nativity.
Watanabe’s uses the mingei approach, characteristic of the mid-century Japanese folk art movement. His unique and engaging prints have been shown at the Vatican Museum, the British Museum, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the National Museum of Modern Art in Tokyo and the White House
Generally speaking, places of worship don’t double as galleries of world-class artwork. But because of the minister’s love for serious art, Pastor Bare arranged for this exhibit from an organization named CIVA to run through December. It’s open Monday through Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm and Sundays, 9am to 12pm.
My second cultural surprise was to learn that a renowned dance company is utilizing the same room as Watanabe’s exciting exhibit! (The hardwood flooring of this room, by the way, was also from the old Royal Poinciana Hotel..) The church’s Great Big Room not only houses wonderful prints, but is also the rehearsal venue for Klein Dance company. Demetrius Klein has been a Palm Beach County dance fixture for over twenty-five years. (My son took tap classes in his Lake Worth studio). Here, surrounded by this wonderful artwork, Klein’s company is presenting a December 4th and 5th performance called “Elbow” open to the public. View Watanabe’s exhibit at 7pm, dance performance at 8pm.
An excerpt from their press release tells it best:
Asked about the new work, Klein said, “I’ve been listening to Elbow’s album [Build a Rocket, Boys!] since its release several years ago. I’d already created two works to two of the songs and I thought, wouldn’t it be great to complete the other eight songs?
“The album functions like a score, not thematically, but the music has an arc to it… a sense of completeness.
“This work delves into how to make partnering that is new, and not romantic in nature. It’s more about help, trust, and support. We integrated some movement from past works as well.”
Tickets are $20 ($10 for students with ID and seniors). Please contact Tracy at 561-758-8726, email dkdcdiyprojects@gmail.com, or visit dkdcdiyprojects.org for more information or to purchase tickets.
Demetrius Klein Dance Company … is South Florida’s oldest modern dance company. Mr. Klein is a celebrated choreographer whose awards include the Hector Ubertalli Award for Artistic Excellence, a Choreographic Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and several grants from the MacArthur Foundation.
So friends, come get a double dose of culture in one night; a two-for-one artistic experience. Enjoy the season’s offerings this weekend and all December long.
Ask the Docs
You are NOT your MRI and you are NOT your diagnosis
By Dr. Jonathon Chung of Keystone Chiropractic
Just a reminder for you: You are NOT your MRI and you are NOT your diagnosis. You are a human being with resiliency and a powerful ability to heal. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
I made this post because of 2 new patients that came into the office this week. One had really bad neck pain, and the other had really bad back pain. Both came in with MRIs and reports showing severe disc herniation, spinal stenosis, and nerve root encroachment. Both had seen doctors who told them that they would need surgery in order to get better.
Long story short, within days of their first Atlas correction, they both felt better than they had in years. Both had more energy, were sleeping better, and stopped taking their over the counter pain meds because they felt virtually pain free.
Now I’m not saying this to toot my horn, or say how great I am (well…maybe just a little bit), but the big idea I want to convey today is that you are not simply the end product of our imaging findings or diagnosis.
You are a human being. That means that as long as you have life coursing through your nerves, and blood flowing through your veins, you were born with resiliency and a powerful ability to heal.
Living Beyond Your Diagnosis
Before I move forward, I want to make it clear that I’m not saying that your diagnosis is irrelevant or isn’t important.
However, the longer that I’m in practice, the more I realize that patients consistently have better outcomes when they begin to separate their diagnosis from their identity. Too often, I run into people who stop doing things in their lives because they are someone with “x” condition.
Here are some examples of what I’m talking about:
“I used to love running, but I can’t do it anymore because I have arthritis in my knees”
“I’m not going to lift weights anymore, I have a herniated disc”
“I shouldn’t go to my grandson’s basketball game, my vertigo might hit me”
I shouldn’t go to the pizza place with you guys, I might breathe in gluten
Alright, so that last one was probably a stretch, but you get my point.
Every day, thousands of people are walking into doctors’ offices and receiving a diagnosis for their incurable or difficult to treat condition. A diagnosis is supposed to help a doctor or health care professional develop a plan or treatment strategy for the patient. It’s not supposed to make a patient forget that they are a living, breathing human being, and the thing that led human beings to the top of the food chain is our remarkable ability to ADAPT.
When we remember that we have this adaptability, it allows us to change our mindset from being a victim of our diagnosis, to seeking ways to live in spite of our diagnosis.
Just check out this short video of Steph Hammerman, a woman with cerebral palsy who has EMBRACED of all things…..Crossfit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qg02E0xf5xQ
And Stephanie is far from the only person who has found ways to live beyond her disability, there are literally hundreds of wounded warriors with missing limbs, PTSD, and more who are doing mud runs and showing that a living human being can push their limits.
Now these are certainly examples from the extremes, so it might be hard to relate to that story, or maybe they are just made of a tougher mental attitude than you think that you possess. I don’t think that’s the case, so I compiled a list of things that I’ve observed seem help people live beyond their diagnosis.
Most people that live beyond their diagnosis are motivated by an activity that they love, or feel like they can’t live without. Here in Wellington, that usually means golf or equestrian activities. When you have an activity that you love, you are willing to do the hard work that it takes to rehabilitate yourself from an injury. Find an activity that motivates you. It might be dancing, it might be Crossfit, and it might be walking your daughter down the aisle, or making love to your significant other. When something important to you is on the line, you will work hard to find a way to make yourself functional.
There’s a reason why many of the people you see overcoming a challenging disability are former military personnel. When you talk to them, many have an attitude that they have something to prove. Some want to prove to their doctor, friends, or family that they can still perform at a high level. For others, they want to prove to themselves that they still have value as a contributing individual to society. Carrying a chip on your shoulder is not the noblest means of reaching a goal, but the ones that carry that chip refuse to let outside circumstances dictate how they want to live their life.
One of the coolest and most burdensome things about being a NUCCA Structural Chiropractor is that a lot of people with chronic pain and illness can start to feel better very quickly. The cool part is that the patient is really happy that they get their life back and refer like crazy. The burdensome part is that everyone they refer tends to have the expectation that they are going to get better just as quickly. In moments like that, I have to remind people during a health history/consultation to celebrate the little victories. There’s nothing worse than going in with high expectations for a quick fix, only to go through the process frustrated with small incremental improvements. Often times, it’s the people who experience the small, incremental improvements that experience the more long-lasting and sustainable results. It’s because they don’t take their improvement for granted and they’re willing to do the work to continue experiencing an improved quality of life. The old tale of the tortoise and the hare has lots of application to real life.
One More Counterintuitive Trait
This last point is going to seem pretty counterintuitive, so I decided to give it a new subheading. I’ll use a story to drive the point home.
Last year I took care of a patient with really bad back pain and sciatica. Through Structural Chiropractic he had a great result. His back pain was 80% better and he no longer had any sciatic pain. He was exercising more, getting stronger, and losing weight. He was able to work long hours with minimal discomfort, and was able to stop taking over the counter medications. He was happy, I was happy, and his wife was happy.
I gave him some advice to look into an anti-inflammatory diet, because I figured with all the positive lifestyle changes he was making, he’d be motivated to take on another step. Within 21 days, he no longer had any back pain, was sleeping better, and his blood sugar went from pre-diabetic to normal.
Living to Be Stronger Instead of Living to Treat Illness
For years, people have been trying to tell this patient what to do to treat his ailments.
Eat healthier to get rid of your diabetes
Get shots to reduce your back pain
Exercise to lose weight
Everyone was correct, but this advice failed to inspire the patient to make a lasting change.
When he came to my office, I told him that our goal wasn’t to just make his pain go away. Our goal is to make him a stronger and more resilient version of himself so that he could have the strength and ability to do the things he wanted to do again.
We are going to correct your structure so that your body is strong enough to do chores and house work.
We are going to get you exercising so that your back is strong enough to endure a round of golf.
We are going to change your eating patterns so that you can wake up with more energy to get work done during the day.
People say they are looking for cures for disease, but many times a disease is simply not curable. A drug isn’t going to cure obesity. An adjustment is not going to make a disc herniation vanish. A machine isn’t going to lift itself to make your body stronger.
With chronic pain and chronic illness, we have to find ways to live in spite of the disease, and make your body as strong as possible so it can adapt to any situation.
When a patient is motivated to be a stronger and more resilient version of them self, then we take the conversation away from disease management, and into the world of personal empowerment.
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Dr. Chung is a practicing Structural Chiropractor in the West Palm Beach area. He has been published in peer reviewed scientific journals and is a sought after speaker in health and wellness. Follow his blog at http://chiropractorwellington.com/category/keystone-chiropractic-blog/ or find him on twitter at @drjonathanchung.
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