Wellness

ARE YOU THE DRIVER OR THE PASSENGER IN YOUR LIFE?

BY KIM RAAIJMAKERS

Does life happen TO you or FOR you? This may sound like a weird question because life just happens, right? Wrong!

There are two ways to live and experience life.

1. Living in the effect of your life (the TO), or 2. You are being the cause of your life (the FOR). Do you look and bemoan the circumstances of your life, frustrated by what you’re experiencing, complaining about what your life is like right now? Or you may be thinking “I’m not complaining, so this isn’t me?”. Let me ask: Are you thinking it is fine, things are good just the way they are? So what does it look like if you’re living as you being the cause of your life? You are driving what your life looks like. You may ask, what about when hard circumstances come up? Bad things happen, do you deserve what happened then, because how can bad things happen for you? Yes things happen, situations come up AND you determine how you respond, you make changes and you CHOOSE how this will take you closer to designing your life in the greatest possible way? As an example, look at Michael J. Fox, who has taken his Parkinson’s disease diagnoses and made it his life purpose to help millions of others in the same condition. He chose to respond and create a gift out of what happened and make it work for him. So let me ask again.

Does life happen to you or for you? Are you a passenger in your life or are you in the driver’s seat? Moving into the driver’s seat can be done in small steps. 1. When you find yourself in a negative emotion (for example, anger, irritation or frustration) this is your signal that you are in the passenger seat. 2. Take a few deep breathes and then ask yourself how would you like to respond to this situation? 3. Ask yourself how could you use this situation that has come up and turn it into a gift? Aim to come up with at least 3 ways that what is happen could be a gift for

you. This may not be right now, it may be a gift in a month, a year or further down 4. Choose the response that you want to have. By doing these simple steps each time, you begin training your brain for the response that you would want first, and you will find it gets easier and easier. Your brain is a muscle and as such you can exercise it and train it to bring you the result that you want. So….. Are you ready to CHOOSE? 

A Wonderful Wellness Holiday Life

BY STEFANIE BARANOWSKI, DIAMOND LOTUS YOGA

I always get mixed feelings about the Holiday season every year. Holiday time, that’s where you can find the warmth in winter and not just with your snow gear. Decorative lights are hung around the city and in homes both inside and outside in all Holiday cultural contexts. While I do love seeing the beauty of the fresh fluffy snow on the ground and the magical feeling of warmth from my Holiday movie favourites, I also know that the Holiday season can bring on some stresses leaving you feeling less like yourself. Every weekend there seems to be a Holiday party or get-together to attend, an outdoor activity to take part in or some Holiday shopping for your family, friends and co-workers. You can be sure to be stuck in traffic a little longer but of course with the comfort of holiday music on the radio. The Holiday season is honourably full of giving; to give gifts, energy and time, but we sometimes forget to give to ourselves. You can’t pour from an empty cup just like you can’t give to others what you don’t give to yourself.

What is Holiday Wellness and how can it benefit you? I’ve taken the typical Holiday stressors that are experienced and created a wellness twist to inspire the cultivation of new traditions that create a Holiday wave of wellness to carry over into the New Year.

1. TAKE TIME FOR YOU

At night when I’m by myself, I’ll sit with my electric gas fire place on, a cup of hot tea or coco and a good book to read. As your schedule fills up with more work hours, more Holiday gatherings, shopping and Holiday fun, it’s important to schedule in some you time into your calendar. Actively schedule time into your scheduler for time to relax;

“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings”

– It’s a Wonderful Life (1947)

maybe it’s going to a yoga class, taking a hot bath at the end of a long day with a glass of wine or maybe its sitting with a good book and tea, whatever is your favourite way to take time for you to relax and connect with you is important to stay mentally and emotionally grounded. Don’t be shy and definitely don’t feel guilty to add in a time slot for self-care. In the yoga community there is a saying that goes around, ‘don’t have 10 minutes? that means you need to take 20 minutes’. You can only give to others what you give to yourself.

2. MINDFUL EATING What is mindful eating? Mindful eating encompasses paying attention to what you are eating and how much you are eating coinciding with how you are feeling physically and mentally. The Holiday season is the season of sugar. The smell of baking is in the air everywhere; peanut butter marshmallow squares, sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, candy canes, and my personal favourite, Starbucks’ chestnut praline latte. There is an emotional stimulation to eating these tasty sugary sweets and the feeling is usually one that is joyful, pleasant, satisfying followed by “oh I probably shouldn’t have ate that” either said out loud or in your mind but you justify it because its tradition. Mindful eating is a practice of being present and making choices that are in alignment with your personal goals. Instead of reaching for grandma’s secret shortbread recipe, opting for a new age healthy recipe is a great way to break sugary tradition and bring mindfulness eating not just into your life but into your friends and family life.

3. FIND TIME TO BE ACTIVE

By the time I get home from those Holiday commitments, the last thing I want to think about is hitting the gym. It can be challenging to want to find the energy to stay on track with your fitness goals on a regular week never mind the Holidays. Building that intrinsic motivation is key towards staying on track with your physical wellbeing. My go to is always yoga as its an activity I’m passionate about and it’s a great way to take care of not just the body but also the mind. With many different lineages of yoga to choose from, you can either take the more relaxed and flexibility focused in a yin or restorative practice or the strength based and cardio based practice of ashtanga or a vinyasa practice. Yoga has many benefits for the body but also to help clear the mind which is especially beneficial for managing stress. Taking that one hour class to focus in on yourself with no distractions is a great way to stay mindfully grounded throughout the busyness of the Holidays and stay physically active.

4. CULTIVATE A SENSE OF GRATITUDE Feeling a little less ‘Whoville’ energy and more ‘Grinch’ energy? Taking time to focus on the things you are grateful for will help with creating a positive mindset. When you mindfully and actively put your focus on the things you are grateful for, you might start to notice that life around you becomes more pleasant and positive. It’s all about seeing the silver lining or the blessings in the situations that don’t go your way and being open to seeing and witnessing the kindness in others.

5. LET IT GO

I know when I make time for family and friend gatherings, I am bound to run into someone I don’t resonate with. Whether it’s not being on the same page politically or maybe there was a situation that caused some ill feelings; to dwell on those ill feelings or hold grudges just hurts you in the end. When you let go of these things and respond with kindness, you emulate that energy outwards which allows space for connection. Isn’t that what we all want as human beings is that connection and that feeling of belonging?

6. REFLECTING AND SETTING NEW GOALS

Why wait until January 1st to roll around to make those New Years resolutions? I start my new goal setting for the New Year nice and early in December. Setting time aside before the New Year rolls around gives you time to sit back and reflect on the past year and be able to effectively goal set with intention and an action plan. Take time to reflect in a journal or with a friend and then take your goal setting to the next level. My personal favourite way to goal set is to write my goals out on a nice big white board and do a crafty vision boarding session with my aunt that has us both caught in meaningful conversation with laughs and tears.

The Holiday season comes once a year and there is something magical about the decor, the lights, the feeling of love and connection that warms my heart. No matter what culture or religion you connect with and traditions you celebrate with, at the centre of it all is the intention of love and connection that truly brings the Holiday season to its brightest light and its coziest warmth. It reminds me that it truly is a ‘Wonderful Life’.

“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings” – It’s a Wonderful Life (1947). 

DR. MINTENKO This holiday season, we would like to thank you for all of your support in the past years, for your encouragement with the process of the name change – we appreciate your trust to our business. May your homes be fi lled with laughter and love, family and friends this season and we wish you a prosperous year in 2022!

DR. MINTENKO

Getting Started with Mint Orthodontics

INDIVIDUALIZED CONSULTATION Your initial consultation will give you the opportunity to meet the team, learn more about orthodontics, receive a complete initial exam, and find out which treatment options will best meet your needs. During your consultation, we will:

• Review your dental and medical history forms • Provide a complete oral exam, including

X-rays, to determine whether treatment is necessary • Help you create a customized treatment plan • Discuss all financial information, insurance options, and payment plans Our team will be glad to answer any questions, and we will provide you with all of the information that you need to determine which treatment is right for you. Please contact our office to schedule your initial consultation. will work with you every step of the way to make sure that your orthodontic care is as rewarding as possible. We use the latest technology, offering a variety of safe and modern treatment options that give the customized, individual care you deserve.

Visit our website or call to book your free consultation. 

Mint Orthodontics 1711 Kirkcaldy Drive Brandon, MB

FIRST VISIT Our greatest goal is to give you the healthy, straight, beautiful smile that you have always wanted. Our team 1-204-727-0401 Info@mintorthodontics.ca www.mintorthodontics.ca