Even More Bad News About Gum disease

Can It Get Worse?  (Yes!)

As if tooth loss, horrible breath and the link to heart disease aren't enough reasons to stay free from periodontal disease, now there's more.

A recent study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, shows that the presence of periodontal disease is an independent risk factor for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Yes - gum disease is linked to head and neck cancer.

Most surprising to the researchers was that it made no difference at all if the patient smoked or not.

"Although the study is comparatively small, the researchers were able to also see an association between bone loss and the risk of head and neck cancer, " according to Andrew Olshan, professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health, and professor in the Department of Otolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

If we ever needed more reasons to wage a full out war on perio disease, this is it. We have always emphasized good gum tissue health in, our practice. And we are more and more aware every year that it is not only about saving teeth.  It is about saving lives!

We urge you to be incredibly diligent about your periodontal health. It is, after, pretty simple to do.  There is lots of information on our web site.  www.DrSteveRoss.com   Browse through the sections on What We Do and also the Library. A Smart Patient is an informed person.

If we ever tell you that you are having signs of gum diseases, please follow our recommendations about how to get yourself healthy.

We don't want to lose you.

Is Your Toothpaste Hurting You?

Is your toothpaste hurting you?

The Cosmetic Dental Home Care group has been involved in an interesting discussion of over-the-counter home care products. Their findings confirmed what we have been saying to our patients for years.

Tartar control and whitening pastes can be especially abrasive and should be used with great caution. If you are using any of those products you should know that they do not contain any of the materials dentists use to whiten teeth, such as carbamide peroxide and other oxygen releasing chemicals.

What they do contain are abrasives and scrubbing agents that do not brighten enamel or penetrate into the microscopic openings in the tooth surface to where the real darkening is happening.

They simply remove surface stains.  This is not real whitening and is only temporary.

But they also can cause microscopic scratches in the tooth enamel surface that not only collect stain, but can also harbor the biofilms that begin the decay process. And they can cause tooth sensitivity, especially to temperature extremes.

This is significant damage and it can be reversed to some degree by dental offices that know how.

Real tooth whitening can only be done with professionally effective and safe materials. Dentists know that they have to be sure your teeth do not have defects that can be harmed by whitening materials and they have to supervise the process.

Want whiter teeth?  Let us know.  We will show you how to do it, safely. 

By the way, most toothpastes sold today are perfectly safe and effective.  Avoid those that claim to whiten teeth or remove stains from smoking. These are the bad guys.

Toothpaste is, basically, a lubricant and detergent.  It is the brush that does the work of removing biofilm, food debris and other unwanted stuff.  And it tastes good.

And it has fluoride.

All over the world there are cultures that clean their mouths very well without toothpaste.  But it's nice to have it.

So choose what you like according to the flavor, feel, cost, etc.


You also need floss, or some other effective way to get between teeth safely.

The important thing is to stay focused.  The goal is to remove biofim from all surfaces above and below the gumline, without damage.

Halloween Candy, Cavities and Protection

Rerun from October, 2009

Are you seeing pumpkins? Is the world turning orange?

Sure! It's almost Halloween. One of the most fun times of the year, especially for kids (of all ages).

But you say you're a parent? You're worried about candy and tooth decay?

Well, good for you. You want your kids to have fun trick or treating, but you want to protect them.

Here's what you need to know.

Teeth naturally get covered with a bacterial called plaque. The bacteria in plaque eat sugar. Then they make acid. Acid attacks tooth enamel and then other bacterial get into the enamel and cause tooth decay.

But you knew that. So what can you do to prevent tooth decay and still let your kids enjoy the traditions and fun of Halloween?

There's nothing mysterious about it. There are several strategies that work. You should do them all.

1. First tip for parents: When the kids return with their treats, dump them out on a table and pick out the best stuff for yourself.

2. Clean teeth will hardly ever decay. Send the kids out with clean teeth. Good oral hygiene before they walk out the door for Halloween trick or treating is simple. Be sure they have clean teeth before they go out.

3. Don't let them go crazy. It's really OK for most kids to have some candy, but a sensible limit is good tactics. Rationing over a few days is smart.

4. Clean again after they eat the stuff. Even a good mouth rinsing with water is good if brushing is not possible.

5. NEVER let kids go to bed without brushing. Overnight, mouths dry up and the plaque works even harder to break down teeth.

6. An over-the-counter fluoride mouthrinse is a good idea. Once a day after brushing. Fluoride toughens enamel and discourages bacteria.

7. Don't lecture. Kids don't like to be lectured at. Educate, explain, but don't turn into the "Mom and Dad of Doom". They'll tune you out.

One more thing. This is unpleasant, but you have to be VERY careful about what kids collect on Halloween. Do not allow your kids to eat unwrapped candy, or any other food. Not only is it unsanitary, it is dangerous.

Halloween is a fun time. Have fun, stay safe and help your kids have healthy teeth.

As always, if you have questions or need advice, just let us know.

You can comment on this blog by clicking on the word "comments" just below. We'll respond.

Does Your Insurance Company Love You?

Two insurance company executives are talking over lunch.  Listen in on their conversation.

One says, "Who's your favorite dental insurance user?"

The other replies, "That guy who has a regular dentist, and never uses up all his benefits every year."

(they both smile)

"Yeah, I know what you mean. We give him a bunch of benefit dollars to use against his dental bills and he doesn't use them all up, even though there are things he can do."  

(they laugh)

"Imagine if someone gave me $1500 to use to get some dental treatment and I threw it away." 

"Hey, I love those guys.  We get paid the premium and the guy doesn't use all his insurance.  We get to keep the money that we would have to pay if he did what the dentist suggested he do.  Free money for us."

"And it doesn't roll over into the next year, even though those benefits are paid for.  We have a great deal, don't we?"

"We sure do."  "Well, let's get back to the office."

Are these guys talking about you?  Are you the guy they love?  Why do you do this?

You have benefits that are all paid for.  Use them or lose them.  Not using them is exactly the same as taking the money and tossing it in the trash.

Give us a call and we'll help you know how you can use the benefits you still have before they are gone forever.    Don't wait.  The end of the year is coming up fast.

Stop throwing money away. 

Gum Disease: An Infection For The Masses

"Me?  No, I don't have gum disease.  Nothing hurts.  My gums are OK."

Could be, of course. Everyone doesn't have gum disease.

Lots of people do, though.  And unless they are in a relationship with a good dental office, they probably don't know it.

If you are reading this, there is a good chance that you are my patient. And if you are, then you know all about gum disease because we have taught you all about it and keep doing it at all your evaluations.

Great.  But still, 70% of Americans show some signs of gum disease, ranging from simple mild gingivitis to really serious advanced disease with loose teeth, pus, bad breath, and pain.

And it all starts with not knowing that gum disease is an infectious disease like any other infection and that it starts sneakily, painlessly and with no drama.  And it progresses because the early signs happen without the person knowing that they are actually signs.  And then, it gets to the place where the person can't help knowing that something is wrong.

And then, finally, I get a chance to help.  And help we can.

Knowledge is power. You should learn about gum disease.  You can start here: http://www.drsteveross.com/gum-disease-library.html

You can keep your teeth.  You do not have to be a victim of this common infectious disease.

And by the way, gum disease is linked to all kinds of more general problems, like heart disease, a variety of cancers, low birth weight babies and more.

Be a Smart Patient.  Don't have gum disease.  And if you do, get it taken care of.  Please.

What Labor Day Is About. Guest Blog.

Here is a guest blog by Seth Godin, author of "Linchpin", a favorite book of mine.  I hope you enjoy it.

Whatever happened to labor?

Not Labor with a capital L, as in organized labor unions. I mean labor as in skilled workers solving interesting problems. I mean craftspeople who use their hands, their backs and their heads to do important work.


Labor was a key part of the manufacturing revolution. Industrialists needed smart, dedicated, trained laborers to solve interesting problems. Putting things together took more than pressing a few buttons, it took initiative and skill and care. Labor improvised.


It took thirteen years to build the Brooklyn Bridge and more than twenty-five laborers died during its construction. There was not a systematic manual to follow. The people who built it largely figured it out as they went.


The Singer sewing machine, one of the most complex devices of its century, had each piece fitted by hand by skilled laborers.


Sometime after this, once Henry Ford ironed out that whole assembly line thing, things changed. Factories got far more complex and there was less room for improvisation as things scaled.


The boss said, "do what I say. Exactly what I say."


Amazingly, labor said something similar. They said to the boss, "tell us exactly what to do." In many cases, work rules were instituted, flexibility went away and labor insisted on doing exactly what they had agreed to do, no more, no less. At the time, this probably felt like power. Now we know what a mistake it was.


In a world where labor does exactly what it's told to do, it will be devalued. Obedience is easily replaced, and thus one worker is as good as another. And devalued labor will be replaced by machines or cheaper alternatives. We say we want insightful and brilliant teachers, but then we insist they do their labor precisely according to a manual invented by a committee...


Companies that race to the bottom in terms of the skill or cost of their labor end up with nothing but low margins. The few companies that are able to race to the top, that can challenge workers to bring their whole selves--their human selves--to work, on the other hand, can earn stability and growth and margins. Improvisation still matters if you set out to solve interesting problems.


The future of labor isn't in less education, less OSHA and more power to the boss. The future of labor belongs to enlightened, passionate people on both sides of the plant, people who want to do work that matters.


That's what Labor Day is about, not the end of a month on the beach.

THE FASTEST SMILE MAKEOVER IN THE WORLD

That's right!  A complete smile makeover.


Three weeks from Before to After.


Two visits.


No shots.  None.


No drilling.  None.


Take a look (actual patient, my office, my photos):

How did we do it?


SNAP-ON SMILE.


When you have no time, but something important is coming up fast (wedding, class reunion, job interview, like that) Snap-On Smile can come to the rescue.


When you don't like your smile, but you've got kids in college (or you're in college yourself) or you haven't won the lottery yet, or they didn't make you Senior Vice President and give you that corner office overlooking the fountain, so you can't afford to invest in a mouthful of porcelain, Snap-On Smile just might be the answer for you.


Yes, you can eat with it.  Yes, it's comfortable. Yes, it's secure.  Yes, it can last two to three years.  Yes, we can make it any color you want.  Yes, it's custom made individually for your mouth, your teeth, your face.


Don't live with a smile you hide.  You don't have to.


Want to know more?  Here's how:


1. Check out web site on this.  Here's the direct link:  http://www.drsteveross.com/snap-on-smile-library.html.


2. You can call our office and ask for a no-charge visit to see if you are a Snap-On Smile candidate. 845-297-6206.


Snap-On Smile:  VCD (Very Cool Dentistry)

Who Is Easy To Manipulate?

Who is easily manipulated?

This is a question that has real interest to me as a practicing dentist.

Because doctors have the easiest time manipulating patients and good doctors know that they have to fight the temptation to do it.

I'm defining manipulation as working to spread an idea or generate an action that is not in a person's long-term best interest. 

Let's look at how people are manipulated.

The easiest people to manipulate are those that don't demand a lot of information, are open to messages from authority figures and are willing to make decisions on a hunch, particularly if there's a promise of short-term gains.

There are habits and activities that leave people open to manipulation. I'm not saying they are wrong or right, just pointing out that these behaviors make you open to being manipulated. Here are a few general categories of behaviors that manipulators seek out:

* Believing something because you heard someone say it on a news show on cable TV.

* Being a child (or acting like one).

* Repeating a mantra heard from a figurehead or leader of a tribe without considering whether it's true.

* Trying to find a short cut to lose weight, make money or achieve some other long-term goal.

* Ignoring the scientific method and embracing unexamined traditional methods instead.

* Inability to tolerate fear and uncertainty.

* Focus on now at the expense of the long term.

* Allowing the clothes or appearance of the messenger (a uniform, a suit and tie, a hat, body type, etc.) to influence your perception of the information he delivers (add gender, fame, age and race to this too).

* Reliance on repetition and frequency to decide what's true.

* Desire to stick with previously made decisions because cognitive dissonance is strong.  Cognitive dissonance is what happens when what you believe is contradicted by new information. Research shows that, when confronted with challenging new information, many people seek to preserve their current understanding of the world by rejecting, explaining away, or avoiding the new information.

  

It's interesting to note that AM radio used to be filled with ads for second mortgages. And now?  Gold.  Manipulators are tuned in to what people can be scared into or easily convinced of. 

Manipulating people using modern techniques is astonishingly easy (if the manipulator has few morals). You only make it easier when you permit people and organizations that want to take advantage of you to do so by allowing them to use your good nature and your natural instincts against you. It happens every day in Washington DC, online, on TV and in your local community institutions. 

What does this have to do with dentistry?

A lot.  Because the worst kind of dental practice is one which tries to "sell" dentistry to patients by scaring them, not supplying information, not sharing knowledge, and basically recommending treatment because it's good for the dentist, and maybe not the right thing for the patient.

Yes, of course it happens.  All the time.  It makes me angry when I see it or hear of it.

Look back over the list of characteristics of people who are easily manipulated.  Do you see yourself anywhere in that list?

In our office we strive to share full and complete information and we respect your right to your own personhood.

That's one reason why we have a blog and a web site that has huge amounts of information.

We talk about this all the time in our office; we actually have meetings about it, and each of us watches to see that we don't fall into the trap.

Doctors have a special obligation to their patients.  We take that very seriously.

Conversation Gems With My Patients

I'm a dentist, but I actually talk with my patients.  

Some of my colleagues think I'm crazy and they say stuff like "Time is money so get 'em in and get 'em out."   "When a patient is talking, you're not working."  "People come to get drilled, not to talk or to hear you talk."  "What the heck is there to talk about?"  "Hey, I run a dental office, not a social meeting place."

No, really.  I get this all the time.  I wonder what it's like to be a patient in one of their offices.

Here are a bunch of things that came up in conversation with my patients over the years (I write down stuff sometimes when it really tickles me).  Some were said to me and some I said myself.  I'm not telling which is which.

Some might have been read or heard elsewhere, but that doesn't matter.  To me, they are all gems.  My conversations with my amazing patients are one of the best things about my job.  My patients keep me going and make my day fun for me and for my team (they like to talk also).

So here are a few of the hundreds of gems and little bits of wisdom that have come my way from the great people who come to our office.


Enjoy!


1. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.

2. Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when you realize you're wrong.

3. There is great need for a sarcasm font.

4. How the hell are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?

5. Was learning cursive really necessary?

6. I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.

7. Bad decisions make good stories.

8. You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you know that you just aren't going to do anything productive for the rest of the day.

9. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after Blue Ray? I don't want to have to restart my collection...again.

10. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten-page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.

11. "Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this - ever.

12. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damn it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What did you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?

13. I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.

14. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

15. I think the freezer deserves a light as well.

16. I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lite (or wine or Margaritas) than Kay Jewelry.

17. I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Speed Trap" and "Avoid Bad Neighborhood" routing options.

18. Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger and  suddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.

19. I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.

20. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.  (this one made me worry)

21. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear or understand a word they said?

22. I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars team up to prevent an ass from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers and sisters!

23. Is it just me or do high school kids get dumber & dumber every year?

24. There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.

25. Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket or finding their cell phone - but I'd bet my behind everyone can find and push the snooze button from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time, every time!

26. Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.

I love my patients!

Is Sleeping Killing You?

Is Sleeping Killing You?


Maybe.  You may not even know it.  But if you have a bed partner, for sure he or she knows it.


OK.  Millions of people snore.  It's annoying.  It drives those you share a bed with crazy.


But it won't kill you if that's all it is.  


But for many snorers, the situation is way more serious.  


Because what they have is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA for short).


OSA is a killer.  Let me tell you a little about it.  And then let me tell you how a dental office can help you.


Obstructive sleep apnea is a common disorder that affects more than 18 million people in the United States. In many of these people, the condition is undiagnosed. People with OSA literally stop breathing repeatedly during their sleep, often for a minute or longer and as many as hundreds of times during a single night.

Sleep apnea can be caused by either complete obstruction of the airway (obstructive apnea) or partial obstruction, both of which can wake one up. OSA occurs in approximately 2 percent of women and 4 percent of men over the age of 35.

It is important to emphasize that, often, the person who has obstructive sleep apnea does not remember the episodes of apnea during the night.

The main symptoms are usually associated with excessive daytime sleepiness due to poor sleep during the night. Often, family members, especially spouses, witness the periods of no breathing.

A person with obstructive sleep apnea usually snores heavily soon after falling asleep. The snoring continues at a regular pace for a period of time, often becoming louder, but is then interrupted by a long silent period during which there is no breathing. This is followed by a loud snort and gasp, and the snoring returns. This pattern repeats frequently throughout the night.

During the nonbreathing episodes, blood oxygen levels fall. Persistent low levels of oxygen may cause many of the daytime symptoms. If the condition is severe enough, pulmonary hypertension may develop, leading to right sided heart failure.

Symptoms that may be observed include:

Abnormal daytime sleepiness, including falling asleep at inappropriate times. Awakening unrefreshed in the morning.  Depression (possibly).  Episodes of no breathing (apnea).  Lethargy.  Loud snoring.  Memory difficulties.  Morning headaches.  Personality changes.  Poor concentration.  Restless sleep.  Abnormal heart rhythm (arrhythmia).  Excessive carbon dioxide levels in the blood.  High Blood Pressure.  Heart disease.  Sleep deprivation. Stroke.

So why is a dentist talking to you about this? Because specially trained dentists (that's us) can be terrifically helpful with mild to moderate OSA.

Dentists with a special interest in this issue know how to make an oral appliance that advances the jaw in sleep and keeps the airway open. Sometimes this is all that is needed to stop the problem.

These appliances are easy to wear in sleep and the improvment in sleep quality, to say nothing about the improvement of the sleep for the partner, can be remarkable.

The alternatives are for the OSA person to use CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) devices, which involve a mask that fits over the face and a machine that pumps air under pressure to force breathing. And there are surgical procedures that may be able to help.

I personally favor the oral appliance called Somnodent, and my patients have found it to be comfortable and effective.  The SomnoDent is a custom-made device, which improves the effectiveness and comfort level of treatment, as the jaw is moved only as far as is required to alleviate the condition.

The SomnoDent is a clinically proven treatment of snoring and mild to moderate OSA.   96% of patients with proven OSA stated they would like to continue to use the SomnoDent.  91% of patients reported substantial improvement in sleep quality with the SomnoDent. 

The SomnoDent works by moving the lower jaw forward slightly, which tightens the muscles in the upper airway preventing them from collapsing and vibrating at night. 

If you are told you snore loudly or stop breathing in sleep, or if your partner does this, please seek help. The diagnosis is usually made by having a sleep study at a sleep center.

But here is some terrific great news: 

Our office can now arrange for you to have a sleep study done right in your own home, in your own bed.  It's so comfortable to be in familiar surroundings without the cameras and observers in a sleep center.

And the cost of a home sleep study is only about $350 instead of the $2000 to $3000 for a sleep center study.

Don't neglect OSA. It can kill you.

If you even suspect you might have OSA, or even if you simply want to stop or reduce your snoring, call us. We can and will help you.  Do it now.

Dental Pain Truths - What You Need To Know

Dental Pain. It's the worst!

But dental pain comes in many different forms. Let's go through some of the common types and put them in some perspective.  Smart Patients know stuff and they keep their teeth.

Brief, sharp momentary pain to something cold.

Goes away as soon as the cold is removed.  Teeth are normally a little sensitive when exposed to real cold.  No problem.  

But: if the cold sensitivity happens when the food or drink is only slightly cold, then it can be from a gap in a filling, actual decay, an exposed root surface (happens if the gum is receded) or if there is a crack in the tooth.  Call us. 845-297-6206.

Or: If the pain lasts for more than a few seconds or a minute, that can mean that the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth) is stressed or deteriorating.  Call us. 845-297-6206

Deeper, more aching pain pain, especially if heat makes it worse.

More serious.  This indicates that the pulp of the tooth is badly inflamed and is on the way to becoming necrotic.  Call us promptly.  This is going to get worse.  845-297-6206.

A real long lasting, steady, throbbing toothache that is agonizingly painful and is worse if you bite on the tooth or press it with your tongue or finger.

This is an emergency.  It means you have an abscess (infection) and it must be treated quickly.  It can become a deep space infection and can become dangerous.

I have a broken tooth or a hole in my tooth but I have no dental pain.  Nothing hurts.  Am I OK?  Can I wait to take care of this?

No.  Any opening in a tooth beyond the enamel is a wound.  It gets infected.  Bacteria enter the microscopic tubules in the dentin and travel to the pulp and then you are on the way to a dead pulp and a toothache.  Many times the reason the tooth doesn't hurt is because the nerve endings in the pulp are already dead.  Call us. 845-297-6206.

I had a toothache but it went away.  Did it heal?

No.  The pulp of the tooth probably died, so the nerve tissue is no longer able to transmit the pain impulses.  Dead pulps need to be treated.  The body does not like dead tissue and it will create problems if it is left.  Call us. 845-297-6206.

I bit on something hard and it hurt, but the pain went away quickly and the tooth isn't sore.  What should I do?

If the tooth stays comfortable, just don't bite hard on it for a day or two.  

But: If the tooth starts to ache or gets tender to temperatures or pressure, call us. 845-297-6206

My teeth are just sort of sore a lot, especially when I wake up in the morning.  What's happening?

You are probably clenching or grinding your teeth in sleep. Some people do this in the daytime too. This is not good for teeth, or for your jaw joints or the chewing muscles in your face.  You need help.  Call us. 845-297-6206.

The bottom line is this: Call and get advice when you are not sure.  We are glad to advise you.

Check out our web site.  It has a ton of information.  We're here for you.

So Glad To Be Here

Today I want to share a communication I got from one of my colleagues on the Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics forum.  June is not a dentist.  She is a Ph.D. who focuses on development and performance.  She's very smart.

So here's a Guest Blog from June Darling.

And as always, you can read my blog at our website.

Enjoy!

-----------------------------------------------------------

So Glad to Be Here

Perched in her high chair, the toddler seemed extremely thoughtful. She must have something big on her mind. As a matter of fact she did, because when her mother asked her what she was thinking about, she said, "I'm thinking about my pancakes."

That thought seemed all too appropriate, perfectly sensible, and somehow funny since she was at that very moment eating her pancakes. Why did it seem so humorous?

Quite often we aren’t thinking about what we’re actually experiencing. The toddler was thoughtfully focused on her pancakes, being right here, right now, in the present – a sound, practical, and unusual way for many people between the ages of four and ninety-four to live (The young and the old are often the best practitioners of what some call “being present.”)

Many of us spend much of our time hovering around somewhere outside our present experience. We may be worrying about something bad which could happen in the future or feeling depressed about something that’s already happened. We are quite unaware of what is actually happening now.

We are often so unaware of what is going on with us and around us at this particular moment that we live our present on auto-pilot. That happens to me.

A number of years ago I was on my way to work. I parked my car. When I started to get out, I realized I was not in the parking lot of my present workplace, but rather in place I had worked previously.

Test yourself. How many of these “unpresent” situations or similar ones are happening to you?

I experience some emotion and may not be conscious of it until some time later.

I break or spill things because of carelessness, not paying attention, or thinking of something else.

I tend to walk quickly to get where I’m going without paying attention to what I experience along the way.

I forget a person’s name almost as soon as I’ve been told it for the first time.

I get so focused on the goal I want to achieve that I lose touch with what I am doing right now to get there.

I find myself listening to someone with one ear, doing something else at the same time.

I snack without being aware that I’m eating.

If you’re like I am. A good dose (or two) of “being fully present” would be useful.

According to psychologists, in addition to helping us get where we want to go, being present helps us feel healthy, happy, and aware. It's an antidote for stress and worry (and can also improve our relationships and help us perform better).

I'm not suggesting that we live every moment in the present (though some people do recommend that), but for most of us a bit more thinking about our pancakes, when we are in fact eating our pancakes, could make for more enjoyment of our pancakes – that is… our lives.

This month let’s use the toddlers' and old folks' cure for anxiety, depression, and unhappiness (which I am personally calling “thinking about my pancakes”) by being more present - right here, right now. We won’t be upset if we notice that our attention has skittered off. We won’t beat ourselves up if we find ourselves in the past, the future, or our old parking lots. We’ll just smile and gently bring ourselves home.

Our life is an experience we don’t want to miss.

How might being “more present” help you move up To The Good Life?

June Darling, Ph.D.
President of Summit Group Resources, An Executive and Personal Coaching Company specializing in organizational and personal development, peak performance, and happiness.

Follow June on Twitter