Denton County Living Well Magazine March/April 2026
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SMART WAYS TO AVOID SCAMS
STAYING YOUNG WHILE GROWING OLDER WHEN AVOIDANCE RUNS THE SHOW
Billy Bob Thornton The Road Less Traveled
Our Focus is You
Denton Rehab is a locally owned and operated skilled nursing facility that is licensed by the State of Texas and certified to participate in both the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Our core management team has worked together for years and has decades of experience providing compassionate healthcare.
When you require professional, dependable, skilled nursing care to regain your health and strength, chose the expert team at Denton Rehab. We invite you to stop by and meet our friendly staff.
We’re excited to show you our beautiful new community in Denton, located on six beautiful acres conveniently located next to Medical City Denton.
Our facility has 94 private beds with ensuite and shower. We have two suites that include ensuite, shower and a living area.
Our new community has three living areas, two dining areas, a private dining area for families, cultural center, sitting parlor, beauty shop, activities center, whirlpool room, therapy gym, and eight covered outdoor areas to relax and view nature and the beautiful, landscaped grounds. Our state-of-the-art kitchen uses green technology to provide healthier, more delicious food.
Denton Rehab’s nurses and certified nurse aides provide around-theclock care. Doctors and nurse practitioners make rounds three times a week while our medical director makes rounds twice a week. Our number one goal is helping you recover and rebuild your life. Our Focus is You!
Denton homegrown and locally owned.
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Living Well Living
STAYING ENGAGED AT EVERY AGE
This month, our cover belongs to a man who has never been particularly interested in fitting neatly into a box. In our celebrity feature on Billy Bob Thornton, “The Road Less Traveled,” on page 8, we look beyond the headlines at a man shaped by grit and a refusal to be predictable. It’s a compelling look at an actor who’s managed to stay relevant on his own terms.
From there, we turn to the science and philosophy of aging in “Staying Young While Growing Older,” on page 30. The conversation has shifted from simply adding years to preserving vitality in the areas of mobility, clarity, independence. The research is hopeful: small daily choices may influence how well we age more than we once realized.
Emotional health matters just as much. In “When Avoidance Runs the Show,” on page 46. We explore why we delay the very appointments, conversations, and goals that could move us forward. It’s not laziness—it’s wiring. And once you understand it, you can work with it instead of against it.
Financial wellness is just as important as physical health. In “Smart Ways to Avoid Scams,” on page 14, we tackle a different kind of vulnerability—financial exploitation. Scammers are getting smarter, but so can we. This piece offers grounded, practical strategies to protect your assets and your peace of mind. It’s a conversation worth having with family members of every generation.
Health. Protection. Perspective. This issue is about staying healthy—in body, in finances, and in spirit. We hope you’ll settle in and spend some time with it.
Live well, Sam & Spring Houston
PRESIDENT & CEO SAM HOUSTON
VICE PRESIDENT & CFO SPRING HOUSTON
EDITOR, FEATURE WRITER & SOCIAL MEDIA SONDRA BARR
ART DIRECTOR VANESSA FRYER
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LIVING WELL MAGAZINE is a source for quality educational articles on living a healthy, vibrant life. Our focus is on connecting our readers with the latest information on a host of topics relevant to their evolving life. From cutting edge medical news and procedures to top-tier financial, legal and lifestyle information. Connecting readers to leading medical and business professionals in their community in Texas and Oklahoma.
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Justin M. Kane, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon and founder of the Orthopedic Institute of North Texas (OINT). He is internationally recognized for his expertise in foot and ankle care. He is a published author and a global lecturer, who has previously served as a Professor of Surgery at Texas A & M Health Science Center College of Medicine.
At the Orthopedic Institute of North Texas, Dr. Kane and his team’s goal is your return to normal activity. They provide surgical and non-surgical solutions designed to resolve your pain.
Dr. Kane specializes in
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BILLY
The Road Less Traveled
By SONDRA BARR
I
WAS ALWAYS INTERESTED IN CHARACTERS. AND I JUST GREW UP AROUND A LOT OF THEM.
There are actors who polish themselves into something unrecognizable over time—sanding down the edges, rounding out the rough spots, becoming easier to place and easier to sell. And then there’s Billy Bob Thornton, who has spent the better part of seven decades doing the opposite.
Thornton has never seemed particularly interested in appearing comfortable. Or curated. Or agreeable. What he has been interested in is being honest—honest about where he came from, honest about how hard things were, honest about the fact that success doesn’t cure anxiety, grief, or the lingering feeling that the rug could still get pulled out at any moment.
That honesty is what gives his performances weight. It’s what made Sling Blade land like a gut punch. It’s what made his later work—Goliath, Fargo, and now Landman—feel less like acting and more like a man carrying the accumulated mileage of a hard-lived life that began poorly.
Thornton has spoken openly about growing up in a household marked by violence. His father, a Korean War veteran, was physically and verbally abusive. “My father was a very violent Irishman and so there was abuse both verbal and physical in our household,” he told Th Today Show. Anger was the dominant emotion, and it was the kind of upbringing that doesn’t disappear when you leave it behind.
Thornton has said his struggles with anxiety, OCD, and dyslexia are tied to those early years.
Born in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and raised in circumstances he doesn’t sugarcoat. “I grew up very poor out in the country. We didn’t have running water, electricity, or anything. Went in an outhouse until I was about 9,” he told Cowboys & Indians magazine. He doesn’t revisit those details for shock value—just context. The soil everything else grew out of.
What mattered, even then, were the people. “It was a place that was rich in storytelling,” Thornton has said, explaining that his grandmother was a writer and that he was surrounded by characters—people who were funny, tragic, contradictory, and unforgettable. “I was always interested in characters. And I just grew up around a lot of them.”
That mix is the emotional engine behind his work. “One of the things about the South that’s different than everywhere else is, tragedy and humor and all these things are all mixed together in a way,” he said.
“You’ll see drunk people laughing at a funeral.”
BOB THORNTON
TOP ROW: Landman, Paramount+; Sling Blade, Miramax Films
MIDDLE ROW: Daddy and Them, Miramax Films; Mr. Woodcock, New Line Cinema; Levity, Sony Pictures
BOTTOM ROW: The Alamo, Touchstone Pictures; Parkland, Exclusive Media
I GREW UP VERY POOR OUT IN THE COUNTRY. WE DIDN’T HAVE RUNNING WATER, ELECTRICITY, OR ANYTHING. WENT IN AN OUTHOUSE UNTIL I WAS ABOUT 9.
Thornton learned that lesson early—and not just as an observer. In 1988, Thornton’s younger brother Jimmy died suddenly from a heart condition. “He was two years younger than me. It just changed everything,” Thornton said during an appearance on Oprah’s Master Class. The loss deepened his wariness of happiness— his sense that good things are fragile and never guaranteed.
“I have to really force myself to think that things are going to be OK in terms of worrying about my family, or myself, or one of my friends [...] There’s a melancholy in me that never goes away,” he told IndieWire.
Acting wasn’t the original plan. Music was. Thornton moved through bands, road work, and a series of jobs that paid the bills just enough to keep going. Hollywood came later—and almost accidentally. When Sling Blade came out in 1996, it was unexpected.
The film earned Thornton an Academy Award for Best Screenplay and an Oscar nomination for Best Actor, but more importantly, it announced a voice that didn’t sound like anyone else’s.
From there, his résumé filled out quickly: A Simple Plan (1998), which brought another Oscar nomination; studio films like Armageddon (1998); scene-stealing turns opposite heavyweights like Robert Duvall and Robert Downey Jr. in The Judge (2014); and a string of performances that proved he could move between menace, humor, and deep vulnerability without changing his fundamental frequency.
What Thornton resisted—famously—was television.
“I was late to the party because when I was growing up TV was a bad word to movie actors. So, I resisted forever,” he told Rolling Stone. Eventually, the landscape changed. Long-form storytelling became something closer to a 10-hour film than a network compromise. Characters had room to breathe. There was no censorship to dodge.
“My manager kept telling me, ‘Dude, this is where it’s headed. You don’t understand... These are long-form movies and it’s where the future is.’” The results speak for themselves. His turn as Lorne Malvo on Fargo reset expectations. Goliath cemented him as the kind of actor television could now be built around. And Landman, Taylor Sheridan’s oil-industry drama for Paramount+, is the culmination of all of it.
The second season just wrapped and viewers can’t get enough. Thornton plays Tommy Norris, a crisis manager for a West Texas oil company. “I’m a fixer and a foreman,” Thornton said in a pre–Season 1 interview. “There aren’t really a lot of scenes where my character comes home and
says, ‘My God, was my day amazing!’ I slink into the house every day like somebody just beat the hell out of me.”
Sheridan wrote the role with Thornton in mind, and it shows. “Taylor really wrote this with my voice,” Thornton explained. “I pretty much played me as if I were a landman,” he told Cowboys & Indians. That approach, playing himself across wildly different roles, is something Thornton is unapologetic about.
“I play myself in everything,” he’s said to multiple outlets. “I don’t care how different it’s from me on the surface—the character in Sling Blade to the character in A Simple Plan to Bad Santa to this.” For him, separating yourself from the character weakens the work.
That truth extends to how he handles the show’s politics— or rather, how he refuses to frame it that way. When asked whether Landman carries an agenda, Thornton has been clear: “Taylor doesn’t write it with an agenda. This just gives you a look behind the curtain of the oil business.”
Outside of acting, Thornton has always maintained parallel lives. Music remains a constant, particularly with The Boxmasters, the band he’s been part of since 2006. They tour relentlessly and pull from ’60s rock influences that have little interest in modern genre boxes. As Thornton put it bluntly before a show, “Look, if you haven’t seen us before—we’re not a country band. We’re a rock ‘n’ roll band. And we’re loud.”
Thornton turned 70 last August, a milestone he once doubted he’d reach. “I didn’t think I’d make it to 30,” he told Cowboys & Indians. While he finds age irrelevant now, there was a moment it hit. “Actually, 70 didn’t freak me out; 60 didn’t freak me out. Fifty freaked me out because I got an AARP magazine in the mail.”
Thornton is candid about the contradictions. He’s eaten clean for years. He manages stress carefully. He believes deeply in happiness as a health strategy. And yes—he’s smoked cigarettes for most of his life and doesn’t plan on stopping. “My holistic doctor said, ‘Keep drinking the beer and smoking the cigarettes. Because you don’t have stress. If that makes you happy, do it because happiness will make you live longer,’” he said. It’s shocking advice by conventional standards—and very Thornton.
Stephen P. Courtney, MD
Fellowship-Trained Orthopedic Spine Surgeon
Over 28 Years of Experience
Dr. Courtney is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon located in Plano, Texas. A Louisiana native, he attended Louisiana State University for medical school, and completed residency at Texas A&M followed by a fellowship at the Florida Neck and Back Institute.
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Smart Ways to Avoid Scams
By PATRICK LANE
I’ll never forget the phone call from a friend whose dad had been convinced to wire thousands of dollars because someone on the other end of the line claimed to be a government official. That call came out of nowhere, and suddenly a lifetime of savings was slipping away. What struck me most wasn’t just the amount of money lost, but the sense of violation that came with it. The idea that someone could charm, persuade, or deceive someone we care about so deeply.
Financial scams aren’t just about bad luck or naivete. They are sophisticated, ever-evolving schemes designed to exploit trust, stability, and often a sense of goodwill that comes with life experience. Scammers know who they’re targeting and why. They design their pitches to sound urgent, legitimate, and sometimes even heartwarming. The intent is almost always the same: separate someone from their money or personal information before they realize what’s happening.
There is a lot of data and reporting that shows how widespread the problem has become. According to reports from federal agencies tracking elder fraud and exploitation, some 50 percent of those targeted by “phantom hacker” scams—fraudsters posing as tech support—were over age 60 in a recent period of reporting, and that group accounted for around two-thirds of the financial losses reported to law enforcement. Scammers use automation, urgency, and impersonation to create scenarios that feel real and compelling. And from a broader perspective, older Americans lose billions of dollars each year to financial exploitation and fraud as people take advantage of their savings, retirement funds, and accumulated assets.
Why does this happen so often? There is no simple answer, but several common themes emerge that explain why these schemes are both
effective and so distressing. Older adults are often financially stable, with savings, investments, and home equity that scammers see as attractive. Many people who have worked for decades are polite, trusting by nature, and less likely to confront someone who sounds official or desperate. Others may be less familiar with new technologies where much of the deception happens—email phishing, fake websites, voicecloned phone calls, or AI-assisted impersonations. Social isolation can also play a role. When someone lives alone or is less connected to friends and family, it’s easier for a scammer’s narrative to feel like a genuine conversation rather than a fabricated scenario.
While it may feel frightening, it’s important to remember that everyone can take steps to protect themselves and the people they care about. Awareness is your first line of defense. One of the most common schemes involves imposters claiming to be from government agencies like the Social Security Administration, Medicare, or the IRS. In these scams, the caller or emailer creates a sense of urgency—a tax problem, a security breach, an unclaimed benefit—that pressures someone to act quickly without verifying the information. In other variations, con artists pose as a relative in distress, claiming to be in jail, injured, or stranded abroad and begging for money to be sent immediately. These “grandparent scams” push emotional buttons and rely on quick, unverified responses.
Technology scams are another major category. These start with a pop-up on a computer screen or a phone call claiming to be tech support from a major company. The pitch might suggest that the victim’s device is infected with malware, that they need to install software, or that a “special fix” requires remote access. Once that access is granted,
the scammer can steal personal data, install harmful software, or find ways to drain accounts remotely. Many of these criminals leverage sophisticated language, official-sounding names, and fake certificates to seem legitimate.
Investment fraud is also on the rise. These come as pitches for “oncein-a-lifetime” opportunities with high returns, often delivered through slick emails, unsolicited calls, or elaborate websites. They sometimes involve cryptocurrencies or fake bonds, and they can look worryingly professional. The emotional pitch is designed to spark excitement and override caution, luring people into transferring money quickly.
So what can you do to protect yourself or a loved one? First, develop a cautious mindset toward unsolicited contacts. If a phone call, text, or email arrives out of the blue asking for information or money, slow down. Legitimate organizations rarely surprise you with urgent payment demands or requests to send money in non-traceable forms like wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. If someone claims to be from a bank, government office, or business, hang up and call the official number you know or find on a secure website. Don’t rely on phone numbers or links they provide, because those can be fake.
Protecting personal information is essential. Sensitive details such as Social Security numbers, full birthdates, account numbers, and passwords should never be shared unless you have initiated the contact through a known and trusted channel. Scammers often try to obtain this data by posing as customers service representatives or security agents. Once they have these details, they can commit identity theft as well as financial theft.
Keeping financial accounts under regular review helps catch suspicious activity early. Whether it’s checking bank statements, credit card activity, or online accounts, consistent vigilance can reveal unauthorized transactions long before they become larger problems. I personally have frozen my credit through the three credit bureaus for an added layer of protection. Many banks and financial institutions also offer alert systems that notify you if there are unfamiliar charges or access attempts to your account.
Talking openly with family or trusted individuals about finances and potential risks empowers shared oversight. Involving a trusted contact who can help review statements or be alerted about unusual activity does not mean giving up independence. It simply provides an extra set of eyes and a second opinion before any rushed decisions are made.
When making significant financial decisions, take your time. If someone tries to create a sense of urgency or insists “you have to act now,” treat that as a warning flag. High-pressure tactics are a hallmark of scams. Always ask questions, verify credentials, and, if possible, discuss decisions with a trusted financial advisor or attorney who can provide an objective perspective. Protecting yourself means choosing not to be rushed or intimidated into rapid choices.
Caregivers and family members can play a valuable role in protection, too. Stay engaged in conversations about finances and digital security, especially as technologies and scams continually evolve. Sometimes a conversation over coffee about what’s current in the world of online fraud can uncover red flags before they turn into losses. Encouraging regular check-ins around financial activities helps normalize vigilance without making anyone feel monitored, demeaned, or judged.
It’s also worth understanding that financial abuse isn’t always perpetrated by strangers. The Department of Justice notes that exploitation can occur within families or by caregivers who misuse their authority over someone’s finances. This range of potential threats highlights the importance of choosing trusted individuals carefully when granting access to accounts, financial information, or decision-making power. Names added to financial accounts or granted power of attorney should be considered with great care; choosing someone trustworthy and thoroughly understanding the implications before signing anything is essential.
If you suspect that fraud has occurred, take action quickly. Report the incident to your bank or financial institutions right away so they can help stop further unauthorized transactions. You can also report scams to official federal resources such as the Federal Trade Commission’s fraud reporting website or contact local law enforcement for guidance on next steps. Many states and communities also have adult protective services that assist with elder abuse cases, including financial exploitation.
The emotional impact of being targeted by a scam can be as significant as the financial toll. Feelings of embarrassment, frustration, or loss of trust can follow, making it harder for victims to talk about what happened. It helps to remember that falling for a scam is not a reflection of intelligence or character. Scammers are professionals trained to exploit human emotions and trust.
Learning from near misses or actual incidents can be empowering. Sharing experiences with friends or family helps create a broader awareness of the tactics used in scams. Community groups, senior centers, and financial institutions increasingly offer workshops or on-
According to reports from federal agencies tracking elder fraud and exploitation, some 50 percent of those targeted by “phantom hacker” scams— fraudsters posing as tech support—were over age 60 in a recent period of reporting, and that group accounted for around two-thirds of the financial losses reported to law enforcement.
line resources to educate about fraud prevention. Programs like Money Smart for Older Adults, developed by regulatory and consumer protection agencies, offer free tools and information designed to help older adults and their families recognize and report scams.
As technology continues to evolve, so do the methods scammers use. Voice imitation, phishing, and AI-assisted deception are becoming more common, and staying informed is one of the best defenses. Taking time to educate yourself about new threats, habits to look out for, and safe ways to verify information promotes confidence and peace of mind.
I’ve talked with people who have had close calls and those who lost money before they knew it. In every conversation, one thing stands out: vigilance paired with calm judgment protects far better than fear. Awareness isn’t about living cautiously; it’s about living confidently within an informed and supportive framework.
Scams may always exist, but being prepared gives you the upper hand. Take time to learn the red flags, trust your instincts when something feels off, and reach out to someone you trust before acting. Protecting your financial wellness means protecting your freedom and dignity, and that is worth taking seriously.
STAND OUT WITH THE EMINENT CHOICE IN HEALTHCARE
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Expert Orthopedic Surgeons Close to
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John S. Early, MD
Terry K. Gemas, MD
William F. Tucker, Jr., MD
Duncan L. McKellar, Jr., MD
J. Conner Ryan, MD
Brian I. Nwannunu, MD
Florian F. Dibra, MD
Charles E. Toulson, MD
Cyrus E. Abbaschian, MD
Donald W. Hohman, MD
J. Stephen Appleton, MD
Alexander S. Greenstein, MD
Kwame A. Ennin, MD
Samuel K. Stephenson, MD
Raj Yalamanchili, MD
Emmanuel D. Eisenstein, MD
Brian Nwannunu
MD, MS
Brian Nwannunu, MD, MS, is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip and knee replacement. He cares for patients at Texas Joint Institute in Allen and in McKinney, Texas.
Dr. Nwannunu, a native of Dallas, graduated Valedictorian from the High School for Health Professions at Townview Magnet Center in DISD. He then earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he was part of the Morehouse College Honors Program. Upon graduation, he completed his master’s degree in Physiology at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., with a concentration on complementary and alternative medicine. Dr. Nwannunu then graduated with his medical degree from Howard University College of Medicine in Washington, D.C., where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society.
Dr. Nwannunu completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at the John Peter Smith Health Network in Fort Worth, Texas, before pursuing additional training with a fellowship in adult reconstruction at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. In addition to his clinical training, Dr. Nwannunu enjoys mission work abroad, providing medical care and health education to populations in need. He is also one of the few official Jiffy Knee™ surgeons in the North Texas area.
He is a member of the American Medical Association, National Medical Association, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.
When not working, Dr. Nwannunu enjoys basketball, weight training, outdoor activities, attending art and music festivals, traveling, world news, and reading.
Dear Olivia,
How do cultural and spiritual beliefs influence end-oflife care decisions when working with a family?
~Cultural and spiritual beliefs matter
Dear Cultural and spiritual beliefs matter, Thank you for asking such an important question. Cultural and spiritual beliefs often shape how families view illness, dying, and what “a good death” means. These values influence decisions about care, rituals, and even the language used during this tender time. Providers have a responsibility to honor these beliefs—and hospice care is designed to do just that.
As lead Chaplain Kevin Moore of VNA beautifully explains, the role of a hospice chaplain is multifaceted and guided by each patient’s and family’s needs. Sometimes this means offering spiritual support through Scripture readings, prayers, or other religious rituals. Other times, it’s about creating space for deep questions: What happens after death? Why me? Why now? While there are no easy answers, the chaplain provides a safe, compassionate place for these conversations.
In many cases, the chaplain helps patients and families reflect on the meaning of life—the people
they’ve touched, the legacy they leave behind. Underneath all of this is perhaps the greatest gift: unconditional love. The chaplain reminds each person that they are loved—loved in this life, loved in whatever comes next, and loved throughout the journey.
If you’re wondering how to ensure your loved one’s cultural or spiritual needs are respected, here are a few practical steps:
• Share your wishes early. Let the care team know about important rituals, language preferences, and values.
• Ask for a chaplain visit. Even if you’re not religious, chaplains are trained to support emotional and existential needs.
• Include family voices. Invite loved ones to share what matters most so care planning reflects those priorities.
You are not alone—many families face these questions. Hospice is not a place, but a philosophy of care that honors the whole person: body, mind, and spirit.
~Olivia
OLIVIA ROGERS , RN, BSN, CHPN, CHPO, MBA, is a leading voice in health care and senior services and the Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer of VNA Texas.
Macular Degeneration
Diabetic Eye Disease
Retinal Vein & Artery Occlusions
Flashes & Floaters
Retinal Tears & Detachments
Macular Pucker/Epiretinal
Membrane
Macular Holes
Uveitis
MATTHEW K. ADAMS, MD, MBA
At Texas Macula & Retina, our mission is to provide exceptional eye care with a focus on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of retinal disorders.
Dr. Adams is a board-certified Ophthalmologist and Ophthalmic Surgeon specializing in Vitreoretinal Surgery. His principal areas of interest include age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal detachment repair, macular surgery, retinal lasers, and secondary intraocular lens implantation.
Dr. Adams and his team are committed to preserving and improving the vision and overall quality of life for our patients by offering the most advanced and personalized retina care available.
Clearing The Fog A Modern Day Guide to Cataracts and Their Treatment
By MATTHEW K. ADAMS, MD, MBA
If you’re over 40 and have ever said, “Why do my glasses never seem strong enough?” or “Why is it so dark in here?” then welcome to the club. One of the most common reasons for these visual changes is cataracts. The good news is that cataracts are extremely common, very treatable, and one of the great success stories of modern medicine. Let’s clear the fog…literally.
What Exactly Are Cataracts?
But eventually, most of us will develop cataracts, just like wrinkles, gray hair, and a sudden interest in lawn quality.
How Are Cataracts Treated?
Important note here: there is no medication, vitamin, eye drop, or laser that can reverse cataracts.
Inside each of your eyes is a natural lens, about the size of an M&M, whose job is to focus light so you can see clearly. When you’re younger, that lens is crystal clear, like fresh window glass. Over time, however, proteins inside the lens begin to clump together. As a result, the lens becomes cloudy. That cloudiness is called a cataract.
Cataracts are not a growth, a film on the eye, or something you “catch.” They are simply a normal part of aging. In fact, by age 50, more than half of adults have some visual impact of cataracts, even if they don’t realize it yet. By age 80, the number is closer to 100%.
What Do Cataracts Feel Like?
Cataracts don’t show up overnight. They sneak in slowly, which is why many people blame their glasses, or the lighting, or their phone’s font size.
Common symptoms include:
• Blurry or cloudy vision
• Increased glare from headlights or sunlight
• Trouble seeing at night
• Halos and “Star-burst” patterns around lights
• Colors appearing dull or yellowed
• Needing brighter light to read
• Frequent changes in glasses prescriptions
A classic complaint I hear is: “Doctor, I don’t feel comfortable driving at night anymore.”
Importantly, cataracts do not cause pain, redness, or sudden vision loss. If those occur, something else is going on, and you should be seen promptly.
What Causes Cataracts?
The biggest risk factor is time. Aging is the main culprit. But several other factors can speed things up:
• Sun exposure
• Smoking
• Diabetes
• Certain medications, especially steroids
• Eye injuries or prior eye surgery
The main takeaway is that cataracts are common, expected, and not your fault.
Can Cataracts Be Prevented?
In short…No. However, measures can be taken to slow them down. Wearing UV-protective sunglasses, eating a balanced diet, managing medical conditions like diabetes, and not smoking can all help.
In the early stages, stronger glasses, better lighting, and anti-glare lenses may help. But once cataracts begin to interfere with daily activities like driving, reading, or recognizing faces, the definitive treatment is cataract surgery.
Cataract Surgery: Not Your Grandfather’s Surgery
Modern cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed and successful procedures in all of medicine. It typically takes less than 10 minutes, is done under local anesthesia, and you go home the same day.
During surgery, the cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens. This new lens stays with you for life and cannot develop another cataract.
There are now several types of lens options, including:
• Standard lenses (excellent distance vision with glasses for reading)
• Toric lenses (correct astigmatism)
• Multifocal or extended-depth lenses (reduce dependence on glasses)
Choosing a lens is a personalized decision, and a good Ophthalmologist will help you decide which lens would be the best fit for your lifestyle.
Recovery and Results
Most patients notice improved vision within 24 hours. Colors look brighter, whites look whiter, and many people say, “I didn’t realize how bad my vision had gotten.”
Recovery is usually smooth, with a few weeks of eye drops and some short-term activity restrictions. Serious complications are rare, and the vast majority of patients are thrilled with their results.
When Should You See an Eye Doctor?
If you’re over 40, a comprehensive eye exam every 1–2 years is a smart investment. Cataracts don’t need to be rushed into surgery, but they should be monitored.
A good rule of thumb: when cataracts start affecting your quality of life, it’s time to talk treatment.
Final Thoughts
Cataracts are a normal part of aging, but living with poor vision doesn’t have to be. With modern treatment, cataract surgery is safe, effective, and often life changing.
So, if the world looks a little dimmer than it used to, don’t assume it’s just “getting older.” Sometimes, it’s simply time to clean the window, and enjoy the view again.
David Shau, MD/MBA
Texas Hip and Knee Center Fellowship Co-Director and Faculty at the Anne Burnett Marion School of Medicine at Texas Christian University
Dr. David Shau is a native Texan, born in Fort Worth, TX. He graduated high school in Flower Mound, TX, and attended the University of Texas at Austin, where he studied biomedical engineering. Dr. Shau then ventured out-of-state to work at leading academic orthopedic surgery centers, including Vanderbilt University, Emory University, and University of California, San Francisco, before being recruited to return home to practice at the premier DFW joint replacement group, the Texas Hip and Knee Center (THK).
Dr. Shau has quickly built his practice through connecting with his community, committing to quality service, and delivering excellent patient care. He utilizes a variety of techniques and approaches for hip and knee care, including direct anterior hip replacements, and offers technology-assisted surgeries, such as Mako Technology for partial and total joint replacements. He also specializes in revision joint surgeries and enjoys complex, challenging cases. As a result of dedicating himself to his craft, his partners at THK promoted him to Fellowship Co-Director early in his practice. Dr. Shau also serves as a Physician Development Coach and is an Assistant Professor at the Burnett School of Medicine at TCU, where he enjoys his roles as a teacher, mentor, and coach.
In his free time, he enjoys food, sports, music, and spending time with his wife and daughter. For more information on Dr. Shau’s care philosophy and the techniques/approaches offered for hip and knee care, please visit DavidShauMD.com.
Red Flags and Green Lights in Financial Advice
By TONY CLARK
Money management has a way of making even confident people feel uncertain. The conversations feel heavier. The decisions feel permanent. And for many of us, the hesitation is not about dollars and cents at all. It is about trust and fear.
Over the years, I have noticed that people rarely regret learning too much about their finances. What they regret is ignoring their instincts about the person on the other side of the desk offering their advice. Long before a statement arrives in the mail or a market turns, there are signals. Some are subtle. Some are obvious. All of them matter. This is not about choosing specific investments or strategies. It is about recognizing whether the relationship with your money manager and their system itself feels solid, respectful, and grounded in your best interest. When financial guidance is healthy, it brings clarity and calm. When it is not, it brings pressure and confusion. Learning the difference can save more than money.
One of the first red flags often appears early and quietly. It shows up as urgency. Someone insists that a decision needs to be made now, before you have had time to think, ask questions, or sleep on it. The explanation
may sound polished, even convincing, but the underlying message is discomfort with your pause. Trustworthy guidance makes room for reflection. Pressure thrives on haste.
Another warning sign is vagueness dressed up as sophistication. If explanations feel intentionally complicated, filled with jargon that seems designed to impress rather than inform, that is worth noticing. A good advisor understands that clarity builds confidence. They are willing to explain something more than once, in plain language, without irritation. Confusion should never be mistaken for intelligence.
Dismissiveness is another signal people often talk themselves out of. When questions are brushed aside or met with subtle condescension, the message is that your curiosity is inconvenient. Healthy financial conversations welcome questions because they reflect engagement. You should never feel embarrassed for wanting to understand where your money is going or why a recommendation is being made.
Transparency, especially around fees and incentives, is one of the clearest green lights. You may not love every answer you hear, but you should understand it. When someone explains how they are compensated without defensiveness or evasion, it demonstrates respect. According to guidance published by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, investors are encouraged to understand how advisors are paid because compensation structures can influence recommendations. That kind of openness is not a burden. It is a foundation.
Listening is another powerful indicator. A trustworthy professional spends time learning about your life before discussing numbers. They ask about goals, concerns, family considerations, and timing. They do not assume that everyone wants the same outcome or measures success the same way. When someone listens carefully, you feel seen rather than sold to.
One subtle but important green light is comfort with boundaries. A good advisor does not push into areas you are not ready to discuss. They do not pry, rush, or guilt you into disclosures. They understand that trust builds gradually. When boundaries are respected, conversations feel collaborative rather than transactional.
Overconfidence, on the other hand, should give anyone pause. Markets change. Life changes. No one can predict outcomes with certainty. When someone speaks in absolutes or guarantees, it often reflects ego rather than expertise. Responsible guidance acknowledges uncertainty and prepares for a range of possibilities rather than promising a single outcome.
Another red flag is an unwillingness to put things in writing. Clear documentation protects everyone. If someone resists providing written summaries, disclosures, or explanations, that resistance
deserves attention. Transparency should not disappear once the meeting ends.
A green light many people overlook is encouragement to involve others. Someone who is confident in their integrity does not fear a second opinion. They welcome spouses, adult children, or trusted friends into the conversation when appropriate. This openness signals that the relationship is not built on isolation or dependency.
It is also worth paying attention to how mistakes or misunderstandings are handled. No relationship is flawless. What matters is response. A professional who acknowledges an error, explains it clearly, and works to correct it demonstrates accountability. Deflection or blame shifting does the opposite.
Trust often reveals itself in small moments. It shows up in whether calls are returned when promised. Whether follow-up materials arrive when expected. Whether explanations remain consistent over time. These details may seem minor, but they are patterns, and patterns tell the truth.
Many people hesitate to leave a financial relationship even when something feels off. Sometimes it is because of time invested. Sometimes it is because of fear of starting over. Sometimes it is simply politeness. But staying in a relationship that creates ongoing anxiety is its own cost. Peace of mind matters.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, financial confusion and misplaced trust are often exploited in scams and high-pressure sales environments. While most professionals are ethical, awareness remains one of the strongest protections. Trust should be earned, not assumed.
There is also a difference between education and persuasion. Healthy financial guidance equips you to make informed decisions. Unhealthy guidance pushes you toward a predetermined conclusion. If conversations consistently feel one-sided, that imbalance is worth examining.
When the relationship is right, there is a sense of steadiness. Meetings feel productive rather than draining. You leave with clarity instead of doubt. You may not have every answer, but you understand the next step and why it exists. That feeling is not accidental. It is the result of alignment.
It is important that I communicate this to you plainly. Asking questions does not make you difficult. Taking time does not make you indecisive. Wanting to understand does not make you naive. These instincts are strengths. They protect you.
The goal is confidence. Confidence that you are being heard. Confidence that information is being shared honestly. Confidence that recommendations are grounded in your priorities, not someone else’s agenda.
Money touches nearly every part of life. It deserves conversations that feel grounded, respectful, and transparent. When those elements are present, trust grows naturally. When they are missing, it is reasonable to pause.
The most reliable guidance rarely announces itself loudly. It shows up quietly through consistency, patience, and clarity. Learning to recognize those signals can change not just how you manage money, but how you feel while doing it.
In the end, the strongest green light is simple. You should feel comfortable being yourself in the room. When that happens, you are no longer navigating finances alone. You are participating in a partnership built on trust, and that is where good decisions tend to begin.
“Where we are committed to excellence”
AMENITIES:
•Private and semi-private studios, some with kitchen elements and/or Frenchdoor courtyard patios
•Flat-Screen televisions
•32 channels of satellite television service
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•Living room with fireplace and player piano
The Cantex Advantage
Cantex Continuing Care Network has been performing the highest standards of transitional healthcare and long-term residential services for more than 30 years. Ask anyone who knows. Cantex stands for quality.
•Library with computer stations and complimentary internet access
•Chapel
•Neighborhood cafes with complimentary premium beverages and snacks
•Restaurant-Style dining room
•Beauty/barber shop with full-time beautician
•Activity program with community outings
•Sedan and van for resident transportation
CLINICAL SERVICES
•Around-the-clock skilled nursing
•Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapies
•Wound Management
•Intravenous Therapy
•Tracheotomy Care
•Physician Services
•Medication Administration
•Enteral/Parenteral Therapy
•X-Ray Services
•Laboratory Services
RICK ROBERTSON
VOTED 2026 TOP LAWYER
Board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
LIZ PORTER
VOTED 2026 TOP LAWYER
Board certified in family law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
VOTED 2026 TOP LAWYER
Board Certified in family law and civil trial law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization
Your Family, and Their Future, is our Priority. At KoonsFuller, family law is not just what we do, it’s all we do.
For over 40 years, we have been dedicated to guiding Dallas families through life’s most complex legal challenges. With 24 Board Certified Attorneys across four North Texas offices, we’re honored to bring a collaborative, tailored and team-based approach to every case.
From informal negotiations and mediation to litigation, our experienced attorneys are prepared to handle estates of all sizes, sensitive custody matters, and high-profile cases with the utmost discretion and care.
And through all of that, we never lose sight of what matters most: achieving results that protect your family and their future.
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320 Eagle Dr., Suite 200 Denton, TX 76201 (940) 442-6677
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BRIAN LOUGHMILLER
CHARLA BRADSHAW
Staying Young While Growing Older
By THOMAS MITCHELL
Everyone understands that life has an endpoint. What is far less settled is how we experience the years leading up to it. For many people, the real goal is not simply adding more years to the calendar, but preserving the ability to move, think, engage, and enjoy life for as long as possible. The most promising conversations in modern health are shifting away from longevity as a number and toward longevity as quality.
For decades, aging was treated as an unavoidable slide into decline, something to be managed rather than questioned. That assumption is now being challenged. Researchers around the world are increasingly focused on understanding aging itself, not just the diseases that appear later in life. The idea is simple, even if the science behind it is complex. If aging is the underlying driver of many chronic illnesses, then supporting the body as it ages may help delay or soften the impact of those conditions.
One of the most important concepts to emerge from this research is the difference between chronological age and biological age. Chronological age is the number of birthdays celebrated. Biological age reflects how well the body is actually functioning. Two people born in the same year can look, move, and feel entirely different decades later. That gap is where hope lives.
Modern life expectancy offers a powerful reminder of what is possible. According to historical data compiled by public health researchers, humans lived dramatically shorter lives just a few centuries ago, largely due to infectious disease, unsafe water, and lack of medical infrastructure. Improvements in sanitation, nutrition, and vaccines transformed survival. What followed, however, was something new. People began living long enough to develop conditions that rarely appeared before. Heart disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative conditions, and certain cancers became more common not because humans suddenly became weaker, but because they lived long enough for aging itself to play a role.
This realization changed the scientific conversation. Instead of treating each disease as a separate enemy, many researchers began asking whether aging could be influenced upstream. If the pace of aging could be slowed or better supported, might multiple diseases be delayed at once?
Some of the most compelling insights have come from studying people who age remarkably well. Individuals who live into very advanced years while maintaining independence and mental clarity tend to experience what scientists describe as a compressed period of illness. They remain relatively healthy for most of their lives and face medical decline only near the very end. This pattern challenges the idea that long life must mean long suffering.
Genetics does play a role in this kind of aging resilience, but it is not destiny. While certain genetic traits appear more frequently in long
lived families, they do not operate in isolation. Biology responds continuously to environment, behavior, and lifestyle. Genes load the gun, as the saying goes, but daily habits pull the trigger.
This is where the conversation becomes relevant for everyone, regardless of family history. The same biological systems that support longevity in rare populations exist in all bodies. Researchers are increasingly interested in how to activate those systems safely and sustainably.
One area of focus is energy balance. When the body is constantly processing food, it prioritizes growth and storage. When food intake pauses, the body shifts into maintenance and repair. Animal studies have long shown that periods of reduced calorie intake, particularly when paired with adequate nutrition, are associated with longer lifespan and improved metabolic health. More recent work suggests that the timing of eating may matter as much as the amount.
This does not mean extreme restriction is necessary or appropriate. Rather, it highlights the body’s ability to adapt and repair when given regular breaks from digestion. Many people notice improvements in mental clarity, energy, and metabolic markers when eating patterns allow for consistent rest periods, though approaches vary widely and should be individualized.
Sleep plays a similarly powerful role. During deep sleep, the brain clears metabolic waste and the body releases hormones involved in tissue repair. Chronic sleep deprivation accelerates biological aging markers and undermines immune function. Supporting healthy sleep is one of the most accessible ways to support long term health, yet it is often the first habit sacrificed to busy schedules.
Movement is another cornerstone. Exercise does far more than strengthen muscles. It improves insulin sensitivity, supports cardiovascular health, enhances mood, and stimulates the production of substances that protect brain cells. Regular physical activity is consistently associated with longer healthspan, not because it prevents aging entirely, but because it helps the body respond to it more efficiently.
Social connection may be one of the most underestimated contributors to healthy aging. Loneliness has measurable biological effects, including increased inflammation and stress hormone levels. Meaningful relationships appear to buffer the nervous system and support mental resilience. Communities that prioritize connection often see better health outcomes across the lifespan.
As interest in longevity grows, so does the marketplace around it. This has created confusion. Many products promise youth in a bottle, yet evidence rarely supports those claims. Supplements, in particular, occupy a murky space. Quality control varies widely, and interactions between supplements and medications are not always well understood. Large scale studies reported by organizations such as the National Institutes of Health have found that routine multivitamin use does not significantly reduce overall mortality for most adults.
At the same time, certain medications already approved for other conditions are being studied for their potential effects on aging biology. Some diabetes and osteoporosis medications, for example, appear to influence pathways involved in cellular repair and inflammation. Research is ongoing, and conclusions are still forming. What matters most is that this work is happening within rigorous scientific frameworks, not marketing campaigns.
Emerging technologies also capture attention. Treatments involving oxygen exposure, cellular energy production, and tissue regeneration are being explored carefully in research settings. While some sound futuristic, they are grounded in real biological mechanisms. These approaches remain experimental, but they underscore how quickly the field is evolving.
Perhaps the most profound shift is philosophical. The goal is no
longer immortality. It is vitality. The idea is not to avoid death, but to postpone disease and dependency for as long as possible. Many researchers emphasize that the best outcome is living fully and then declining briefly, rather than surviving longer with prolonged illness.
This perspective reframes aging as something to engage with rather than fear. Small, consistent choices matter. The body responds to signals every day. Nourishment, rest, movement, stress management, and connection all send messages that influence how cells behave over time.
Aging well is not about chasing every new trend. It is about respecting the systems already in place. When those systems are supported, the body often does more than expected.
The idea of dying young at an old age is less about defying nature and more about working with it. The science suggests that while no one can control everything, many aspects of aging are more flexible than once believed. The challenge is not discovering what matters, but remembering to prioritize it.
In the end, longevity is not measured solely in years. It is measured in moments that feel good to be present for. The growing body of research points to a hopeful truth. Aging does not have to mean giving up what makes life enjoyable. With attention, intention, and respect for the body’s rhythms, it is possible to stay engaged, capable, and curious well into later chapters.
TEACH YOUR CHILDREN WELL
By RICK ALLEN
Nothing makes a parent prouder than to hear someone else brag on your kid. Typically, a parent’s response is something like, “Are you sure we are talking about the right kid”? As we all know behavior is often different at home than it is when they are out on their own, and thank goodness, most of them mind their p’s and q’s and wind up making us proud.
As I grow older and watch our children and their friends grow up and mature, I have to wonder is there something we could be learning from them. Because my days are filled with exposure to events surrounding death, grieving families and funeral tributes, I have the opportunity to observe people who are often experiencing the worst thing that may happen to them in their entire life. I have always felt that adversity brings out the very best or unfortunately the very worst in people and while I sometimes have to shake my head at the worst, I equally stand in amazement at some of the wonderful people who are poised, full of grace, loving and caring with one another even in difficult times.
Something that has been most striking to me about common behaviors I am witnessing recently is how the younger generations are responding when one of their peers has died. Unfortunately, most of the time when a younger person has died, it is due to accident or an incident that has been acute in its’ onset. Shock, which is a common part of the grieving experience, is very obviously present and the denial that a death has occurred could easily overcome someone who is not yet a mature adult.
It has been a common practice for many years to suggest allowing those who are grieving an opportunity to see their friend one last time at an open casket event such as a visitation at the funeral home or at least having the casket open prior to funeral services for viewing. However, over the course of the past 15 years or so, a trend has been emerging and people are often foregoing the viewing altogether. My personal opinion is that in an attempt to deal with grief, those who want to have the least exposure to it are actually only prolonging their grief. It appears as if the logic is that “if we ignore it, it will go away”. What I am actually witnessing is quite an opposite response to death and grief by the younger generation. When a peer has died, the surviving friends actually want to see that person to say good-bye. They do not seem to be fearful or turned off by viewing the body of a friend who has died, but rather appear to find comfort and closure, just as the experience is designed to offer. What is really interesting about this attitude toward the viewing experience is that it is a full circle back to what the grandparents of this generation found to be commonplace regarding funeral tributes. It is as if the viewing custom skipped a generation for one reason or another.
Having witnessed this desire for a viewing opportunity in the younger generation, I have to ask myself how this has occurred. Obviously, they have not been taught it by parents who have trended to the complete opposite attitude and most will not remember the customs of their grandparents. So, I have to assume that it is something thought through and decided as being relevant by this younger generation. If that is indeed the case, do we, as older adults need to look to the younger ones for advice on how to deal with grief and loss in a healthier way? Quite possibly so, I always encourage people to listen to their inner self. Follow your instinct and do not be afraid to go against what you have been taught as being normal.
10Ingredients of Thriving
By AMANDA FISHER
Thriving isn’t a static destination or a personality trait you either have or don’t. It’s a way of living that honors who you are, how you relate to others, and how you respond to life’s ups and downs. Research in psychology has shifted from merely studying mental illness to studying well-being. Well-being is what actually helps people flourish and feel a sense of meaning, mastery, and connection. Learning these principles is about making small shifts in life that help you move from surviving to thriving.
1. Meaning and Purpose
Having a sense of purpose, that feeling of “this matters to me,” is central to wellbeing. People who report that their activities and goals align with deeply held values experience greater satisfaction and resilience when faced with challenges. This idea aligns with work in psychology showing that having a sense of purpose and meaning in life is linked with not just emotional well-being but also long-term health outcomes and recovery from setbacks. What gives your days meaning? Whether it’s family, a creative pursuit, volunteering, gardening, or mentoring others, a sense of purpose gives direction to your energy and choices.
2. Positive Thinking and Hope
Optimism isn’t about ignoring life’s difficulties. It’s about the lens you use to view them. Studies tracking people over time show that those with hopeful future expectations tend to bounce back more readily from adversity and experience higher overall emotional wellbeing. This doesn’t mean you deny reality, but it does mean you learn to balance hard truths with a belief that the future can be better than the present. Drawing on hope helps people stay engaged with life even when the road isn’t smooth.
3. Lifelong Growth and Learning
Thriving includes an ongoing commitment to learning, not just formal education but curiosity about the world and yourself. Research on psychological flourishing highlights personal growth as a pillar of well-being: people who continue to learn, develop new skills, and expand their perspectives tend to report greater life satisfaction. This isn’t about being expert at everything. It’s about valuing the process of exploration and recognizing that growth can take place at any age and in countless areas of life.
4. Motivation and Mastery
Motivation rooted in your interests and strengths fuels engagement and achievement. Psychologists talk about intrinsic motivation, doing something because it’s meaningful rather than because someone told you to. When you use your strengths and push yourself to master new skills, you build confidence and resilience. This sense of competence, knowing you can grow and accomplish tasks, is tied to overall wellness and enhances your ability to weather life’s inevitable setbacks.
5. Resilience and Adaptability
Thriving doesn’t mean you avoid difficulty. It means you have the capacity to adapt and even find value in your struggles. Psychological resilience involves flexibility, perseverance, and a mindset that allows you to learn from adversity rather than be undone by it. Resilience isn’t fixed rather you can cultivate it by practicing gratitude, nurturing a supportive community, and reframing challenges as opportunities for growth rather than insurmountable barriers.
6. Deep Social Connections
Humans are social beings. Positive, supportive relationships are consistently linked to emotional and physical well-being across cultures. Social competence, cultivating connection, managing conflict, and empathizing with others, enhances quality of life. Isolation, conversely, can undermine health and happiness. Researchers find that strong social networks not only enrich emotional life but also provide tangible support when life gets hard.
7. Autonomy and SelfAcceptance
One of the cornerstones of thriving is the ability to make choices that feel true to your internal values rather than simply following external expectations. This autonomy is closely linked with a sense of personal integrity and freedom. Alongside autonomy is self-acceptance, recognizing your strengths and limitations without harsh self-judgment. When people accept themselves realistically, they are more likely to make choices that support their long-term wellbeing rather than striving for an unattainable ideal.
8. Environmental Mastery
Environmental mastery means feeling capable of managing life’s demands and shaping your surroundings in ways that support your goals. Whether that’s organizing your home so it feels comfortable, creating routines that nurture your mental health, or structuring your schedule so you can pursue meaningful activities, mastery fosters confidence. It’s not about controlling every outcome. It’s about knowing that you can influence your life circumstances in positive ways.
9. Emotional Awareness and Regulation
Understanding your own emotions and learning how to respond to them constructively is essential for both internal peace and healthy relationships. People who can identify what they’re feeling, why they’re feeling it, and how to express it appropriately tend to navigate stress more effectively. Emotional awareness allows you to respond to life’s ups and downs with clarity rather than reactivity.
Why These Ten Matter More Than Ever
These principles echo several well-studied psychological frameworks such as the PERMA model (Positive emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment), which underscores the multifaceted nature of flourishing, and Self-Determination Theory, which emphasizes the importance of autonomy, competence, and relatedness for intrinsic motivation and well-being. Both lines of research converge on the idea that thriving isn’t about chance. It’s about nurturing a constellation of qualities that empower people to live fully and with purpose.
Breaking life down into these key areas is not a checklist to complete but a way to understand the ingredients that research suggests support thriving. No one element alone guarantees a fulfilling life, and the balance among them will vary from person to person and across different seasons of life. The aim isn’t to judge yourself against a perfection standard. It’s to become aware of where you are and to consider gentle ways to nurture areas that feel meaningful to you.
When you read this list, you may recognize areas where you already
10. Contribution and Generativity
Being part of something larger than yourself, whether through community service, mentoring, creative expression, or acts of kindness, deepens a sense of belonging and purpose. People who regularly contribute to others’ wellbeing feel more connected and report greater personal satisfaction. This aligns with principles in positive psychology that talk about transcendence, your connecting with something beyond day-to-day concerns, and finding value in supporting the broader web of life around us.
feel strong: creative interests that engage you, relationships that nourish you, or a sense of mastery in aspects of your daily routine. You may also notice elements you’d like to strengthen: perhaps a deeper sense of purpose, more regular learning, or a richer sense of connection. Awareness is a powerful first step. Knowing what contributes to thriving gives you clarity about where to focus your energy and attention.
Thriving is not reserved for a lucky few. It’s an ongoing process of learning, connecting, overcoming, and choosing what matters most. Each day presents subtle opportunities to grow in these areas—through small acts of kindness, deliberate curiosity, honest reflection, or reaching out to someone who matters. Taken together, these practices help move life in a direction that feels alive rather than simply routine.
If there’s one takeaway from decades of research on thriving, it may be this: Well-being is not the absence of hardship. It’s a blend of resilience, meaning, connection, growth, and choice. When you cultivate these elements thoughtfully, life feels less like something you endure and more like something you contribute to and shape.
Texas Back Institute
Texas Back Institute (TBI) has served the North Texas area in spine care for over 45 years. An uncompromising desire to put patients first and provide individualized spine care has helped change the treatment options available to patients for neck and back pain.
Today, TBI is a leader in artificial disc replacement, minimally invasive spine surgery, complex revision surgery, and treatment of spinal deformity. TBI has trained hundreds of surgeons, scientists, and allied health professionals now practicing worldwide. Its research institute employs state-of-the-art technology and is actively involved in many clinical trials, including artificial disc replacement, minimally invasive technologies, and robotic spine surgery. Texas Back Institute has remained one of the most academic practices in spine care. It is one of the largest multidisciplinary spine centers in the world, providing comprehensive care for neck and back pain. With a fully dedicated staff of board-certified orthopedic spine surgeons, neurosurgeons, physiatrists, and physical therapists, the TBI team works together to support its mission of helping patients get back to life. The 26 physicians at Texas Back Institute are leaders in the surgical
and nonsurgical treatment options for back and neck pain, from the most common outpatient procedures to the most complex cases. Thanks to the unmatched expertise of the medical staff, the advanced diagnostic testing, and an unparalleled commitment to patient care, the Texas Back Institute physicians can identify the potential cause of your pain and create a treatment plan specific to your needs.
Texas Back Institute has developed several spine specialty programs. These include the Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery Center, Center for Disc Replacement, Scoliosis and Spine Tumor Center, and Complex Back Surgery Center. These programs give patients access to highly-trained care teams who focus specifically on these areas of spine care, allowing patients in the North Texas area access to treatment options for their individual problems from physicians with extensive experience in these areas.
“At Texas Back Institute, finding the right solution for each patient and offering the least invasive treatment is core to our belief and the foundation for all treatment plans.” Dr. Michael Duffy.
ALLIANCE
3025 N. Tarrant Pkwy., Ste. 220 Fort Worth (Alliance), TX 76177
ARGYLE
310 FM 407E, Ste. 100 Argyle, TX 76226
DALLAS
12222 N. Central Expy. Pavilion II, Ste. 310 Dallas, TX 75243
DENTON
3537 S. Interstate 35, Ste. 308 Denton, TX 76210
FLOWER MOUND
4370 Medical Arts Dr. River Walk Bldg. III, Ste. 230 Flower Mound, TX 75028
FORT WORTH
1650 W. Rosedale St. Ste. 301 Fort Worth, TX 76104
4510 Medical Center Dr., Ste. 106 McKinney, TX 75069
NORTH RICHLAND HILLS
4351 Booth Calloway Dr., Ste. 404 Fort Worth, TX 76180
CENTRAL PLANO
4001 W. 15th St. Ste. 455 Medical Office Bldg. III Plano, TX 75093
PLANO
6020 W. Parker Rd. Ste. 200 Plano, TX 75093
ROCKWALL
3164 Horizon Rd. Ste. 100 Rockwall, TX 75032
SASCHE
4650 President George Bush Turnpike, Ste. 100 Sachse, TX 75048
TOP ROW:
Sheena Bhuva, MD; Michael Duffy, MD; Peter Derman, MD; Brian Braaksma, MD; Shashank Gandhi, MD; Stephen Tolhurst, MD; Blake Staub, MD; Alexander Satin, MD; Chun Lin, MD; Kevin Ju, MD; Akwasi Boah, MD; Junyoung “Jon” Ahn, MD
BOTTOM ROW:
Adewale Adeniran, MD; Thomas Kosztowski, MD; Rey Bosita, MD, MBA; Rajesh Arakal, MD; Jessica Shellock, MD; Isador Lieberman, MD, MBA, FRCSC; Richard Guyer, MD; Jack Zigler, MD, FACS; Scott Blumenthal, MD; Theodore Belanger, MD; Nayan Patel, MD; Craig Lankford, MD; Michael Hisey, MD; Uche Davidson, MD
A Life Check Scavenger Hunt for Adults
The Kitchen
❍ Fresh fruit
❍ Something green in the freezer
❍ Sugary snack
❍ Beverage with added sugar
❍ Protein source
❍ Something expired
❍ Supplement you take regularly
❍ Supplement you bought and forgot
❍ A Water bottle you actually use
❍ Comfort food tied to memories
❍ A spice or seasoning you put on everything
Before you start checking boxes, pause for a moment and take this page at face value. This is not a test or a scorecard, and it is not meant to highlight what should be different about your life. Try to stay curious rather than critical. Think of it as a gentle walk through the spaces you live in and the relationships you carry. Over time, we collect far more than objects. We gather habits, routines, expectations, friendships, and responsibilities. Some of them quietly support us while others linger long after they have stopped serving a purpose. There is no right number to check and no ideal outcome. You may discover that your home and relationships are more supportive than you realized. You may also notice patterns that explain why certain days feel heavier or more cluttered than they need to be. If something surprises you, let it. If something feels emotional, pay attention to that as well. The purpose of this scavenger hunt is not what you check off, but what you notice along the way.
Release and Donate
❍ Clothing you haven’t worn in a year
❍ Shoes that hurt but looked good in the store
❍ Something you kept out of guilt
❍ Duplicates of anything
❍ Outdated paperwork
❍ Books you won’t read or reread
❍ Décor that no longer fits your taste
❍ Hobby supplies from a phase you’ve outgrown
❍ A kitchen gadget you’ll never use
❍ Cords with no known purpose
❍ Something broken you keep meaning to fi
❍ Worn out towels and cloths
❍ Unused handbags
❍ Extra mugs and plastic cups
❍ Clothes that don’t fit your current body
❍ Expired products
Personal Energy
❍ One activity that restores you
❍ One that drains you
❍ One obligation you keep out of habit
❍ One boundary you’ve improved on
❍ One boundary you need to work on
❍ One place that brings calm
❍ One conversation you’re avoiding
❍ One routine that helps your focus
❍ Something that disrupts your sleep
❍ One thing you look forward to weekly
❍ One small joy you often overlook
Friendships (One
person may fill several roles here.)
❍ One person who listens without fixng
❍ One who makes you laugh
❍ One you can call when overwhelmed
❍ One who respects boundaries
❍ One who tells you the truth kindly
❍ One who shows up physically
❍ One who needs your support right now
❍ One person you’d like to reconnect with
Future Proofing
❍ Emergency contact list
❍ A password system you trust
❍ Important documents in one place
❍ A calendar you actually use
❍ A backup plan for technology
❍ A trusted professional contact
❍ A will or note about one
❍ Insurance information you understand
❍ Medications listed somewhere safe
❍ A financial account overview
Memory and Meaning
❍ A photo that makes you smile
❍ Something handmade
❍ A letter or card you saved
❍ A scent that triggers memory
❍ A song tied to a season in life
❍ A private memory that makes you smile or blush
❍ A book that changed your thinking
❍ An object tied to travel
❍ Something inherited
❍ Something that represents growth
❍ Something you’d pass on to someone else
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» Assistive Devices
Hearing Loss Isn’t Just an “Older Person” Issue—And Much
of It Is
Preventable
Courtesy HEARING SERVICES OF McKINNEY
As an audiologist, one of the most common misconceptions I hear is that hearing loss is simply a part of getting older and something to deal with down the road. While hearing changes do become more common over time, research and clinical experience show that hearing damage often begins much earlier than people expect, and in many cases it’s preventable.
Noise exposure plays a significant role. Everyday sounds that don’t feel extreme can quietly damage hearing when they’re loud enough or last long enough. According to guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prolonged exposure to sounds above 85 decibels can begin to harm hearing. That’s roughly the volume of a vacuum cleaner. Many personal listening devices can exceed that level, typically up to 106 decibels, when turned up, especially when used with earbuds.
What makes this especially concerning is how integrated headphones and devices have become in daily life. Music, videos, podcasts, work calls, exercise playlists, listening often stretches on for hours without much thought. When sound is delivered directly into the ear at higher volumes, the inner ear’s delicate structures take the impact. Once those sensory cells are damaged, they do not repair themselves.
Studies have shown that early signs of hearing damage are more common than most people realize. In one well-known study conducted by the National Foundation for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, more than a third of students tested already showed evidence of hearing loss. While that research focused on younger individuals, the same listening habits (long duration and high volume), are shared by many adults today.
Hearing loss at any stage of life can affect more than just how well you hear. When sounds become harder to understand, the brain works overtime trying to fill in the gaps. Over time, this constant effort can lead to mental fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and frustration. Conversations become work instead of enjoyment. Background noise feels overwhelming. Many people begin avoiding
social situations without fully realizing why.
There’s also an emotional side that often goes unspoken. Untreated hearing loss has been linked to increased feelings of isolation, anxiety, and low mood. When communication becomes difficult, people may withdraw or feel less confident participating in group settings. Addressing hearing challenges early can help preserve not only hearing clarity but also emotional well-being and connection with others.
The good news is that much of noise-related hearing loss can be prevented. One simple guideline often recommended by hearing professionals is the 60/60 rule—listening at no more than 60 percent of maximum volume for no longer than 60 minutes at a time. If someone nearby can hear sound coming from your headphones, that’s a sign the volume should be lowered.
Choosing over-the-ear headphones instead of earbuds can also help. Earbuds sit closer to the eardrum and can deliver sound more intensely, increasing the risk of damage over time. Taking regular listening breaks, lowering volume, and limiting daily headphone use are small changes that can make a meaningful difference.
Just as important is knowing when to have your hearing checked. Ringing in the ears, difficulty understanding speech in noisy places, or frequently turning up the television are all early warning signs that shouldn’t be ignored. A professional hearing evaluation can identify subtle changes before they begin interfering with daily life.
At Hearing Services of McKinney, we encourage people to think of hearing care as part of overall wellness, not something to postpone. Hearing plays a vital role in how we communicate, stay engaged, and feel connected. Protecting it today helps support a better quality of life for years to come.
Hearing loss doesn’t have to be inevitable. With awareness, smart listening habits, and regular checkups, it can often be prevented or managed effectively when caught early. Your hearing supports every conversation, every relationship, and every moment of connection. It’s worth taking care of now.
Carly, Colon Cancer Survivor
Providing modern, minimally invasive procedures to patients with neurological conditions
Dallas Brain, Spine and Skull Base Surgery is a neurosurgical practice that offers over 40 years of experience providing an innovative and collaborative state of the art approach to the care of patients with challenging neurological problems from around the world. Dr. Beshay and Dr. Coimbra have developed unique expertise in the treatment of brain tumors becoming the referral destination for the treatment of patients, especially those with complex or difficult to access tumors. They have also shown a commitment to the development of minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures including the most modern expanded trans–nasal endoscopic skull base surgical techniques and focused extradural approaches to skull base tumors.
Dr. Beshay’s interests include tumors of the brain and spine, minimally invasive spine surgery, complex spinal reconstruction, and epilepsy surgery. In addition to surgical treatment of intracranial and spinal disease, he has an interest in neurological bleeding and its reversal. Dr. Beshay’s clinical interests include: benign and malignant brain tumors, neuroendoscopy, epilepsy surgery, intracranial hemorrhage, cranial/ spinal trauma, minimally invasive spine surgery, complex spinal reconstruction with an interest in C1–C2 and occipito–cervical junction disease.
Dr. Coimbra restricts his practice mostly to intracranial neurosurgery. This selective tertiary practice has fostered the opportunity to develop unique expertise and commitment to the treatment of malignant and benign brain tumors. He is an expert in the minimally invasive resection of the most complex skull base tumors, including meningiomas, acoustic neuromas, and pituitary tumors. He employs CyberKnife radiation therapy, endoscopic endonasal techniques, and an array of focused skull base approaches to create a customized treatment plan for each patient in his practice. These innovative approaches allow resection of deep, difficult, and complex tumors with minimal brain tissue manipulation and maximal preservation of function.
Dr. Coimbra and Dr. Beshay believe in customized patient care and a team approach to medicine with attention to careful selection of the least invasive and most effective treatment for each patient. Their commitment to this philosophy has resulted in maximum preservation of function, less discomfort, shorter hospital stays and durable favorable outcomes for their patients.
Left to Right Caetano J. Coimbra, MD; Joseph Beshay, MD
KHALID YOUSUF, MD, MS
Board-Certified Orthopedic Surgeon | Hip & Knee Replacement Specialist
Dr. Yousuf is a nationally recognized leader in advanced hip and knee surgery, offering robotic-assisted procedures, partial knee replacements, and the anterior hip approach to help patients find relief from joint paint and move freely again.
He serves as Medical Director of Hip & Knee Surgery and Orthopedic Robotics at Baylor Scott & White (East Region) and has been honored among the Best Doctors in Dallas & Collin County. His dedication to innovation and patient care continues to set the standard in orthopedic excellence.
3800 Gaylord Pkwy., Ste. 810 Frisco, TX 75034
5220 W. University Dr. Physician Bldg. 2, Ste. 300 McKinney, TX 75071
When Avoidance Runs the Show
By AMANDA FISHER
Iam betting you know the feeling. There’s a task tucked somewhere on your list that quietly nags at you, a small but persistent gnaw of “I’ll get to that later.” It might be a doctor appointment that’s overdue, an overdue phone call, or a long-delayed project you tell yourself you’ll tackle one of these days. And yet that day never quite arrives. Avoidance feels familiar because the brain has evolved to protect us from discomfort. When something feels challenging, uncertain, or unpleasant, the nervous system registers a type of threat, even if there’s no physical danger involved. So it instinctively steers us away from it. You’re not lazy. Your brain is trying to keep you safe.
Psychologists studying procrastination and avoidance behavior point to something fundamental: people don’t usually avoid work itself. What they really avoid are the feelings tied to the task whether it is fear of failure, overwhelm, boredom, or even perfectionism. These emotional responses are enough to make almost anyone stall, even when the task at hand is genuinely worthwhile.
Understanding this doesn’t make avoidance disappear, but it does reframe it from a character flaw into something manageable, something to work with rather than against. Over the years, experts have developed a variety of practical ways to “nudge” the brain into taking
action, and the clever part is that these aren’t about brute force willpower. They’re about working with your brain’s natural wiring to make difficult tasks feel more approachable.
One of the simplest ways to reduce the resistance around a dreaded task is to shift the focus from the outcome to the process. Instead of fixating on the final result, whether that’s finishing a big project, losing weight, or making a tough phone call, instead pay attention to the moments that lead up to it. Focusing on how the task feels in each step, or the things you’ll experience as you do it, turns something daunting into a sequence of actions that feel more immediate and less overwhelming. Research suggests that this change in perspective helps the brain reduce its instinct to flee from discomfort.
Breaking a large task into small, tangible pieces is another effective tool. In behavioral psychology literature, this is described as making a task bite-sized. When a project feels monumental, your brain’s natural response is to minimize effort, which often looks like delay. But a smaller, specific first step—like writing a single paragraph, making one phone call, or spending five minutes organizing your thoughts— feels achievable. That tiny first move often generates momentum that carries you into the next step. It mirrors a technique described in var-
ious psychology resources where tackling just the first piece of a job reduces perceived threat and makes progress more likely.
There’s even a very straightforward trick that helps many people break through the initial resistance by engaging the thinking part of the brain. Called the five-second rule in popular psychology, it works like this: the moment you notice yourself hesitating, count backward from five and move before you reach one. This interrupts the brain’s instinctive avoidance loop and shifts control to conscious decision-making. It’s not magic, but it’s remarkably effective for turning intention into action because it weakens the window in which doubt and procrastination can take hold.
Another helpful strategy involves accountability. Tasks that feel like solo battles can feel significantly easier when shared. Telling a friend, partner, or coworker about something you’re trying to accomplish introduces a social component that increases commitment. Knowing someone else is aware of your intention makes it harder to quietly drift away from it and can even add a kind of positive peer pressure. Even setting a mutual check-in time or enlisting someone to do a parallel task alongside you can make a big difference. Studies indicate that shared goals and social support improve follow-through by making tasks feel less isolating.
It also helps to be mindful of your inner dialogue. The stories we tell ourselves about why we can’t start something often become self-fulfilling prophecies. Praising yourself for trying, acknowledging that discomfort is normal, and reframing hesitation as a shared human experience can reduce internal pressure. Researchers have found that self-compassion is a meaningful factor in decreasing avoidance because it breaks the cycle of guilt and anxiety that often fuels procrastination. Instead of criticizing yourself for avoiding a task, try gently reminding yourself that you’re doing your best and focus on one small action.
Techniques rooted in behavior science also play a part. Commitment devices are ways to bind yourself to follow through by creating consequences or incentives for completing tasks. For example, some people schedule appointments they care about with a non-refundable fee, use apps that lock certain distractions until a task is done, or publicly announce intentions so others can help hold them accountable. The idea behind these devices is not punishment but strengthening the psychological pull toward action instead of avoidance.
Routines and environment matter too. Reducing distractions, organizing your workspace, and creating specific time blocks for tasks help your brain associate certain places and times with focused effort. Removing visual or digital clutter lessens the mental load and makes it easier to start. Part of why this works is that the brain is continually evaluating effort and reward. Clarity and structure make action feel easier, while clutter amplifies the appeal of avoidance.
Researchers have found that self-compassion is a meaningful factor in decreasing avoidance because it breaks the cycle of guilt and anxiety that often fuels procrastination.
Finally, allow yourself flexibility within your plan. Sometimes what feels like avoidance is a signal that your expectations might need adjusting. If you’re consistently struggling with a certain task, scaling it back into a gentler version or rescheduling it with kindness toward yourself can reduce the internal conflict without abandoning your goals entirely. Taking care of your physical needs such as rest, hydration, breaks, and movement, also feeds into motivation, because the nervous system responds to discomfort not just emotionally but physically as well.
We all avoid things sometimes. You might know exactly what you want to do for your health, your relationships, or your work, and still find yourself stalled. That doesn’t mean you’re lazy or weak. It means your brain is wired to prioritize short-term ease over long-term benefit, a survival instinct that was helpful in ancient environments but can feel counterproductive today. The aim is not to shame yourself for avoidance but to create conditions where your goals feel easier to approach.
Overcoming reluctance is not about pushing harder; it’s about discovering the hidden levers in how your mind works and using them in your favor. Whether it’s breaking a task into smaller steps, pairing it with an enjoyable element, enlisting a friend’s support, or using a countdown trick to get started, these tools help redirect your nervous system from avoidance to action. Everyone’s brain plays tricks now and then but understanding why and how can put you back in the driver’s seat.
FLORIAN DIBRA, MD
Florian F. Dibra, MD is a board-certified, orthopedic surgeon located in Frisco, Texas who has extensive knowledge in hip and knee orthopedics and treats operative and non-operative hip and knee arthritis. He focuses on minimally invasive muscle-sparing total hip and knee replacement, anterior hip replacement, partial knee replacement, robotic joint replacement and complex hip and knee replacement revisions. Dr. Dibra is specialized in MagicKnee and MagicHip, muscle-sparing techniques with robotic technology.
Dr. Dibra graduated with honors from Villanova University in Pennsylvania. Soon after, he received his medical degree, with cum laude honors from the esteemed Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He completed his orthopedic surgery training at the University of Florida. He continued at the University of Florida Health Hospital to complete his fellowship in Adult Arthroplasty with an emphasis in hip and knee reconstruction. During Dr. Dibra’s surgical training, he accomplished several publications, book chapters, and poster presentations.
Dr. Dibra’s family consists of his wife and two children. In addition to English, he is fluent in Albanian, Italian, and proficient in Spanish.
PRAIRIE ESTATES c
by CANTEX CONTINUING CARE NETWORK
Located near Frisco Lakes and downtown Frisco, Prairie Estates offers all the comforts of home and so much more.
Welcome to Prairie Estates
Transitional Healthcare in a Luxury Setting
QUALITY MEASURES
Prairie Estates
Main
(214) 705-9108
• Private and Semi-Private Suites
• Pastorial Services
• Television with Satellite Service
• Wi-Fi Internet Access
Rehabilitative, Complex or Chronic Care
Prairie Estates offers both inpatient and out-patient rehabilitation services aimed at treating a variety of sub-acute and chronic medical conditions:
Cantex Continuing Care Network has been performing the highest standards of transitional healthcare and long-term residential services for more than 30 years. Ask anyone who knows: Cantex stands for quality.
