Ahh-choo! It’s  a common sound during this time of year when the flora and fauna are in full swing spreading their yellow pixie dust across the world. Allergies—seasonal or not—are a big buzzword these days, with more people than ever showing signs and symptoms. Obviously we all know the sneezing, itchy throat, watery eyes and runny nose symptoms of allergies, but read on to learn more about allergies, intolerances and what is behind the rise.

Concerning my prior use of the word “addiction” in association with smart phones and children (including teens), some people think I am speaking figuratively. To set the record straight: No, I am speaking quite literally.

When the addiction in question is to a substance, as in an opiate, there is both a psychological and physical component. During withdrawal from an addictive substance, both components come into play. The individual’s thoughts and emotions are in disarray and the person suffers physiologically, as well. When most people think in terms of an addiction, that is their mental picture.

Living with pain is no fun. In fact, pain can take all the fun away, especially if you enjoy being active. It’s somewhat of a Catch-22, though. It seems the more active set are the ones who get sports injuries. Makes sense, afterall, doesn’t it take sports to get a sports injury? Not necessarily. Sometimes, just a simple walk to the mailbox, moving a planter in the garden, or a quick clean up of the garage can end in injury. The good news is pain does not have to be forever with many injuries, over use, or degeneration. There are new, modern and effective ways to stop the snap, crackle, pop in the knees, reduce the burn of bursitis and rejuvenate the rip of the rotator cuff. We asked our local orthopeadic experts to tell us all about sports injuries, joint replacements and knee problems. Here is what they had to say:

If you feel the urge to hide your smile, now is your time to say cheese! Cosmetic dentistry has never been so accessible, or advanced. Whether a little whitening will brighten your world, or you need to wear braces as an adult, a beautiful, brilliant smile, worthy of that big screen money shot, it easy to attain. And  no longer do you have to have a mouth full of metal—or head gear, for Heaven’s sake! Want whiter teeth? You can check it off your to do list in about 90 minutes. There are many new and advanced procedures your cosmetic dentist offers that can help you look younger, healthier, and happier! Find your options and watch that frown turn upside down. Now that’s something to smile about.

Concerning my prior use of the word “addiction” in association with smart phones and children (including teens), some people think I am speaking figuratively. To set the record straight: No, I am speaking quite literally.

When the addiction in question is to a substance, as in an opiate, there is both a psychological and physical component. During withdrawal from an addictive substance, both components come into play. The individual’s thoughts and emotions are in disarray and the person suffers physiologically, as well. When most people think in terms of an addiction, that is their mental picture.

A therapist takes a 10-year-old boy into what she calls “therapy.” The young fellow is belligerently defiant toward his parents and throws titanic tantrums when things don’t go his way. At school—virtual, going on a year—he’s distractible and doesn’t finish his work without being hovered over and harangued by his mother, a tactic that frequently precipitates more belligerence and a titanic tantrum.

It’s time for me to create personal projects. I’m ready to pass my role in Paisley Magazine to our new Regional Manager, Kelly Hunter, a big fan of the magazine since we first started in 2008. Kelly will stay true to our mission—empower, inform, encourage and evoke thought—for women and their families with even more verve! Here we are in Historic Downtown Brunswick at Queen Square as I pass Kelly a symbolic bag of “cool paisley things.”

One of the greatest things about reading Paisley Magazine is how our enticing covers and monthly themes connect us all. Living here as an active citizen over 24 years has helped me easily find local inspirational women to share their stories, and featuring each one of them has been a real treat.

“Life tends to slow down on Jekyll Island – a good place to reflect and explore–especially while on a walk on the beach” – Ben Carswell.

Welcome to #Naturescalling–our March issue.

I enjoyed posing with this huge fallen oak at Driftwood Beach on Jekyll Island, one of Georgia’s most visited beaches. Recently, photographer Nancy J. Reynolds and I got to spend a relaxing time among the many eroded oaks, palms and pine trees. We think they make for the most fantastic photos. Driftwood Beach is a place where Nature always wins.

What’s so scary about being wrong? Will people think
you’re dumb, incompetent, less than? Perhaps being wrong will threaten your leadership skills, or diminish respect? These are valid fears because being wrong leaves us feeling vulnerable and
reveals we are not perfect.

Many people thrive on perfection and find being wrong something they can’t bear. According to author Kathryn Schultz, in her book Being Wrong, humans tend to tacitly assume (or loudly insist) they are right about almost everything. As such, she argues, that error is the fundamental human condition and should be celebrated as such. In other words, not only is it OK to be wrong, it’s human nature, though admitting it is not.

Everyone wants life to be fun, full and heart-y, which is easy when you’re healthy. But it’s hard to follow your heart when it’s sick. Heart disease is still the No.1 killer for both men and women in the US. However, with a little TLC, many risks associated with heart disease, heart attacks and strokes can be drastically reduced. The heart is our lifeline, without it we cease to be. It’s not difficult to take care of, so why not begin marching to your heart’s beat, and take the easy steps to be heart healthy? A healthy heart gives a heart-y life! 

Q: I teach 3- and 4-year-olds in a childcare center in Australia. I always have a few difficult children in any group and the book in which you describe Alpha Speech [The Well-Behaved Child] has been very helpful. My disciplinary options are limited to separating a misbehaving child out of the group for a few minutes and talking, but I cannot isolate or take privileges away. Besides, it seems that the worst kids’ parents undo at home what we accomplish in the classroom. Some of them even side with their children when they misbehave. Meanwhile, we walk on eggshells when it comes to discipline so that a parent doesn’t file a complaint against us with child protection. What suggestions do you have for preschool teachers?

JOY and LOVE. These are two words I get to experience each month as we place Paisley Magazines in hundreds of locations all over Glynn and McIntosh. Here at our Brunswick warehouse for 12.8 years, are our stacks of archive—yes, we’ve had the same warehouse all this time. And I’ve done the math—the “Divas” and I have distributed over 1.3 million copies!

“Habits are more about who you’re being than what you’re doing,” says NY Times bestselling author of the Badass Series, Jen Sincero in her just released Badass Habits. If that doesn’t feel like cold water thrown in your face, I don’t know what does. It’s the New Year and no resolution or goal can be met without identifying the habits that are keeping you from achieving your wants, needs and desires. In the last year, we all have developed a backbone strong enough to get real with ourselves. You can’t change your behavior to aspire to new goals if you don’t change your habits—the pesky routines on autopilot that may be holding you back from reaching your full potential. You don’t mean to be working against yourself, but your bad habits sure do.

Like a grand marshal waving in the first float of the parade, a grand lunar trine kicks off this month on a high note with expectations of ascending tones. A procession of ever-more impressive happenings is on display for anyone inclined to give them attention. Mars will change signs and people begin to relate differently, seeking a connection between their experience and the experience of others.

Read on for your horoscope...

January can get you down with more than the blues. It’s the month down South when the cold really kicks in, and brings with it common winter illnesses such as cold, flu and respiratory infections. Ugh! These winter woes can make you feel terrible. That’s why it’s important to know as much as you can about how to avoid and rapidly cure these sneezing, coughing, stuffy, achy, miserable ailments.

Q: We have a 10-year-old daughter who runs our family. We allowed her to begin dictating to us when she began talking and it’s just gone slowly downhill ever since. She manipulates us with shrieking tantrums, disrespect, and downright refusal to do what we tell her to do. We must have done something right, however, because she gets nothing but praise and compliments from teachers, coaches, and her peers’ parents. We can hardly believe they are describing the same child. Is it too late to turn this around? If not, what should we do? We’re desperate.

#MotivateMe is Paisley’s first 2021 theme of the New Year, and we have gleaned some stories to get you motivated for the New Year. Meet Cherise, Tammy, Meghan, and Stephanie—women wisely using self-motivation to make changes in their lives and in our community.

The sun is in its send-off phase of the wild ride of 2020. Dec. 10 brings the final solar trine of the year, and the sun has chosen Mars, the warrior, in fully armored Aries. It’s a bright push of aggressive energy, like the charge of battle or a surge of war cries, each led by its own conquering spirit. Now, where should this mighty power be directed? The enemy is our own resistance to evolving.

Read on for your horoscope...

Non-invasive is all the buzz in the world of cosmetic procedures that can help restore a more youthful appearance almost anywhere on your body. However, in talking with a surgeon who is board certified in plastic surgery, we found out that some elective surgeries are still the only way to achieve certain results. The great news is when you combine surgery with some of today’s non-invasive, state-of-the-art technology, which is a true art in plastic surgery, your results can be exactly what you wanted. We asked about some of the most popular plastic surgery procedures, and here’s what we learned.

Q: We sent our daughter a recent article of yours hoping it might cause her to rethink her approach to raising our grandson. It was not well-received and she is no longer speaking to us. The child, age four, is quite ill-behaved. Our daughter makes one excuse after another for him: he was premature, he was hospitalized at age three and now has PTSD, he might have a biochemical imbalance, and so on. We feel that his real and only problem is lack of discipline. For example, when he’s with us, he’s perfectly well behaved. We love our grandson, but don’t like being around him when his parents are running the show. What should we do now?

Holiday greetings from all of us at Paisley Magazine! Once again, I get to pose “by and on” Market on Newcastle’s big Christmas tree decorated by their staff! Thank you, Melissa Bagby Ramsey.

Welcome to December’s magazine, themed #BeTheDifference. This holiday issue is full of encouragement and inspiration. We are featuring four dedicated local women in service to others: Dr. Michelle Johnston, Tres Hamilton, Dr. Shirley Wilson and Judy Wolfe. Plus, our special salute to The Brunswick Christmas Parade—the absolute best hometown holiday event—is on page 8. Mathew Hill and all the Christmas Elves at the City of Brunswick DDA are in preparation. I hope to see you at the parade on Dec 5th!

Like the large diamond found glistening on the ground in a state park, this month brings cosmic treasures we won’t have to dig for. Mercury returns to Scorpio promoting blunt honesty, then Jupiter and Pluto come together in an embrace of abundance. There is no need to go back in history or seek esoteric knowledge. Solutions are simple instead of profound and will be found through practical communications that go the usual depths.

Read on for your horoscope...

If something is named heartburn, reflux or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), it can’t be good. While usually not life-threatening, acid reflux, and all it’s monikers, definitely can threaten your quality of life. GERD has no respect for decadence on the dinner table, and no one wants to enjoy a delicious filet minion paired with a big,
full-bodied glass of cabernet only to have to follow it up with plop, plop fizz, fizz as dessert. So what is GERD and how can you manage it? Read on to comfortably digest what our local medical experts have to say about this
uncomfortable condition.

As just about everyone who has lived with a child for more than two years knows, the most potentially dangerous thing one can say to a toddler is “no.” That single syllable strikes deep into the core of the reptilian portion of the toddler brain, arousing a reaction that dwarfs Godzilla’s most destructive rampage.

“Should I simply ignore my two-year-old’s tantrums?” a young mother asks.

 “Can you?”

She ponders that for a moment or two. “Not really.”

Ignoring is about as over-rated as it gets, especially when it comes to toddler tantrums. Nothing brings out a toddler’s inner Godzilla like being ignored. That same mother, for example, reported that when she ignored a tantrum, it quickly escalated into hitting, biting, and head-banging. If she began walking away, her live-in maniac would wrap himself around her leg, shrieking like a banshee.