Style Magazine July 2020
Let’s rewind for a minute to early March. Before life as we knew it came to a screeching halt. I was a distracted mom, driver, wife, and worker who was religious about my routine, took things like haircuts and hugs for granted, and had big plans to see the world this summer. Then, COVID-19. Need I say no more. For anyone who likes to be in control and is a creature of habit, it was the ultimate lesson in letting go and realizing that the only thing we truly have control over is our attitude. Despite the challenging moments, the tears, and the fears that my own family faced, the situation ultimately brought us, and our community, closer. It was a time—a lot of time—of reset, reflection, and, yes, reruns. I embraced the multiple months at home by learning a few new skills (baking sourdough bread and bagels), savoring every second with my daughter who’s growing way too fast, planting a pretty—and pretty prosperous—garden, and gaining a new appreciation for my neighborhood and the people and places that make it thrive. Another positive thing to come out of quarantine? The rates of pet adoption and fostering significantly spiked. As touch between humans became taboo and people started spending endless hours in the comfort of their crib, owning an animal became even more enticing. Just turn to this month’s feature, “Incredible Pets,” on page 53 to read about two lucky pups who were adopted amid the pandemic (Daphne and Lady), plus other four-legged friends who live, and are loved, locally. We also share a lengthy list of area animal rescues, tips for summer pet safety, easy ways to pamper your pet, and furry friends to follow on Instagram. It’s a feel-good feature you won’t want to miss. As life slowly returns to (a new) normal, I hope we continue to be more present, spend ample time outside—and in the kitchen—and, maybe most importantly, support the small businesses that support us on a daily basis. Cheers! — Megan // megan@stylemg.com @meggoeggowaffle
Let’s rewind for a minute to early March. Before life as we knew it came to a screeching halt. I was a distracted mom, driver, wife, and worker who was religious about my routine, took things like haircuts and hugs for granted, and had big plans to see the world this summer. Then, COVID-19. Need I say no more. For anyone who likes to be in control and is a creature of habit, it was the ultimate lesson in letting go and realizing that the only thing we truly have control over is our attitude.
Despite the challenging moments, the tears, and the fears that my own family faced, the situation ultimately brought us, and our community, closer. It was a time—a lot of time—of reset, reflection, and, yes, reruns. I embraced the multiple months at home by learning a few new skills (baking sourdough bread and bagels), savoring every second with my daughter who’s growing way too fast, planting a pretty—and pretty prosperous—garden, and gaining a new appreciation for my neighborhood and the people and places that make it thrive.
Another positive thing to come out of quarantine? The rates of pet adoption and fostering significantly spiked. As touch between humans became taboo and people started spending endless hours in the comfort of their crib, owning an animal became even more enticing. Just turn to this month’s feature, “Incredible Pets,” on page 53 to read about two lucky pups who were adopted amid the pandemic (Daphne and Lady), plus other four-legged friends who live, and are loved, locally. We also share a lengthy list of area animal rescues, tips for summer pet safety, easy ways to pamper your pet, and furry friends to follow on Instagram. It’s a feel-good feature you won’t want to miss.
As life slowly returns to (a new) normal, I hope we continue to be more present, spend ample time outside—and in the kitchen—and, maybe most importantly, support the small businesses that support us on a daily basis. Cheers!
— Megan // megan@stylemg.com
@meggoeggowaffle
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| health & wellness |<br />
Photo ©Krakenimages.com - stock.adobe.com.<br />
Listen Up!<br />
7 Facts About Hearing Loss<br />
by KOURTNEY JASON<br />
Hearing loss is a common chronic condition, especially as we<br />
age. Approximately 48 million Americans have significant<br />
hearing loss, says Roselynn Young, AuD, owner of Roseville<br />
Dianostic Hearing Center. Dawn Alden, ND, at Revolutions<br />
Naturopathic says nearly half of people aged 75 years and<br />
older have trouble hearing. “While loud noise is one of the<br />
most common causes of hearing loss, it can also stem from<br />
earwax blockage, certain diseases, trauma to the head<br />
and/or ear, frequent ear infections, aging, medications, or<br />
[genetics],” Dr. Alden says.<br />
It can be hard to recognize age-related hearing loss, as the<br />
loss is a gradual process. You may have a problem and not<br />
know it. Read on to learn more about the signs of hearing loss<br />
and how it can impact your overall health.<br />
1<br />
Watch for Warning Signs<br />
Hearing loss often goes unrecognized due to slow<br />
progression. “In an article published in the American<br />
Academy of Family Physicians, the authors report 80%<br />
of patients 65 and older with moderate to profound<br />
hearing loss did not perceive themselves as hearing<br />
impaired,” says L. Mark Payne, AuD, and Director of<br />
Audiology at Marshall ENT and Hearing Center. Dr. Alden<br />
suggests speaking with your doctor if you have any of the<br />
following signs of hearing loss: trouble hearing over the<br />
telephone, difficulty following conversations, regularly<br />
asking people to repeat what they’re saying, turning up<br />
the volume on your TV so loud that others complain,<br />
having a problem hearing because of background noise,<br />
thinking that others mumble in conversations, and/<br />
or not understanding women and children when they<br />
speak to you.<br />
2<br />
Impaired Cognitive Health<br />
Hearing loss can be one of the first signs of<br />
a greater cognitive disorder, such as dementia or<br />
Alzheimer’s. Cognitive decline creates cognitive<br />
overload, which is the inability to process the<br />
information you’re being told, says William Forrest,<br />
owner of Cognitive Hearing Centers. “If you have<br />
hearing loss and can’t hear people around you,<br />
especially in noise, this is cognitive overload. When we<br />
can’t understand 50% of the conversation, we tend to<br />
check out.” When left untreated, hearing loss accelerates<br />
cognitive decline and cerebral atrophy (or brain<br />
shrinkage) and increases the risk of social isolation.<br />
“There are now over 26 scientific studies connecting<br />
cognitive decline to untreated hearing loss, which in<br />
fact is a precursor to Alzheimer’s,” Forrest shares.<br />
JULY <strong>2020</strong> | stylemg.com 33
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