Hello Kevin,

Summer 2023

Don't have a family doctor? Go to this link to book an appointment for a non-emergency visit to see a Nurse Practitioner at Orillia Soldiers Memorial Hospital - Non-emergency appointment

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What does it take to become a Doctor of Chiropractic?

A new patient of ours asked me yesterday what it takes to become a Chiropractor. I told him its three years of university natural sciences which is the same for medical doctors before medical school. Then, Chiropractic college is another four years. What I didn’t get a chance to say was more detail. We learn all about the human body, starting with a full year of anatomy complete with dissection of a cadaver, then physiology, biochemistry, pathology, and then gradually more about how the body works and what can go wrong. Then, we learned how Chiropractic techniques can help, what other techniques we can apply and anything that we can do, naturally to help the body heal without the use of drugs and surgery. After passing Chiropractic college we need to pass rigorous provincial and national board exams before we are able to practice in any region. Once we are done with the formal education was when we really learned about patient interaction, experience with different condition and different treatment techniques.

Even after working as a Chiropractor, we are still required to continue learning new things and keep up on what is changing. Each year we need to do a minimum of 20 hours of continuing education. This can be in-person seminars, conferences, online webinars, or self paced learning as long as there is a structured testing afterwards.

When it comes to thinking well for a healthy mind, it is extremely important who we hang out with. Choosing to spend time with people who build you up, show empathy, genuinely care about you is what John Tesh talks about in this quote. In this day and age of bullying, abuse, and narcissistic people, it is more important than ever to carefully choose who you want to spend time with. Of course the flip side of this coin is for all of us to take the challenge and be the kind of person that supports others and helps them to feel good about themselves.

A recent support structure for anyone suffering with any kind of mental health is the Wellness Together Canada where help is a click away for Canadians, and is always free and virtual, 24/7

wellnesstogether.ca mental health and substance use support

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To Help Keep Our Minds Sharp

Soon after the pandemic started, Lee Anne asked me to join her as her partner in screenwriting. But first some backstory! With her years of experience writing novels in the Paige Maddison Series (two of which with our loving son, J.R. Matheson) and being an author, aka Lee Bice-Matheson (who enjoyed 50 book signings through Indigo and Independent stores like Manticore Books), she was set to write screenplays! Lee retired on her 50th book signing four years ago. Indigos at the Eaton Centre in Toronto, Newmarket, and Stoney Creek, asked her to return again, for her 3rd, 4th, and 5th signings. She declined saying it's been an honour but my focus has changed. My beloved wife enrolled in screenwriting courses from one of the top teachers in Hollywood, David Trottier. When she finished with top honours, I was thrilled she asked me to join her.

We finished our first screenplay, called a 'spec script', and started the task of having professionals read it with the thought that maybe someday it could be made into a movie. One of Lee Anne's friends lives in NYC and she is an Oscar award-winning screenwriter. She loved it and said, "Lee, go for it!" We've not looked back.

The Nicholl contest is the best way to gain recognition and validation for screenwriters via The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences in L.A. Hollywood! It is hosted by the oscars.org/nicholl - LINK We are thrilled to share we made it through the 1st round. As you can see in the picture below - 'Proofed / Approved'. We are in! The competition is the largest worldwide. After the 1st round, it now sits at 5,599. We've had a tremendous amount of support from patients, family and friends. A special thanks to all!! Cross your fingers for us. And no, we won't be retiring from practice for many years to come. Lee Anne and I love what we do!

Building a plan for healthy eating

A great new way to look at structuring a healthier diet for you and your family is to build a healthier plate of dinner. The old premise of dinner was primarily meat and a little side of veggies or starch. The new, healthier way of building a plate for dinner should be half fruit and vegetables - the more variety of colour the better, a quarter of the plate should be a healthy, whole grain such as brown rice, or quinoa, and the final quarter should be a healthy meat choice such as fish, antibiotic-free lean chicken, eggs, or beans. We need to have less red meats or processed meats.

Use good quality oils like virgin olive, or canola, and of course less butter.

Organize a rough plan for your meals for the week before you hit the grocery store. Keep plenty of healthy, non-perishable foods such as beans, rice, and frozen veggies on hand. Be sure to read labels on processed foods. Look out for too much sugar, fats, and salts. Try to avoid frying as much as possible. Choose a healthier technique such as sautéing, poaching, or roasting foods.