Here are some tips to help you become financially independent: 1) Spend less than you earn. 2) Have a plan and stick to it. 3) Buy a house and pay off the mortgage as soon as you can. 4) Get rid of any credit card or consumer loan debt. 5) Set up pre-authorized transfers to move 10% of your monthly income into savings. 6) Work with an advisor to choose an investment plan that works for your goals. 7) Don’t put all of your money into one investment option. 8) Save and invest any extra income (bonuses, etc.).

Even in this age of computers and technology, it’s important for kids to be able to express themselves using their own hands. Many children with learning difficulties often deal with dysgraphia, which can be described as a disconnect between the brain and the hands. This can prevent children from being able to write down their own thoughts and ideas, a skill that is important for academic success. Getting to the root of a child’s dysgraphia can help them to better express themselves and can free up space they were using to grapple with the issue, so that they can focus on their creativity.

Does your child seem to be putting forth more energy at school than their peers are? Is it starting to affect their self-esteem, grades, and social connections? There are programs that can help to strengthen your child’s ability by aiding their brain to change and grow through the principle of neuroplasticity. After-school options can help you and your child to boost their brain power and set them on a path of academic success. If you’re willing to put them in after-school sports programs to help exercise their bodies, why not place them in after-school programs that can help stimulate their minds?

Warmest welcome to our newest addition to the veterinary team – Dr. Hebe Lin of Crescent Beach, BC. Dr. Lin brings years of experience breeding border collies to our team, and has special interest in ophthalmology as well. We have been fortunate enough to have her intern with us and get special training with our specialist referral team. For those of you wanting to communicate in Mandarin, that is Dr. Lin’s native tongue. Please help us welcome her to the practice as we build more relationships with you and your pets.

The human body is an electrical being and the health of it depends on the energy currents that run through it. When the body suffers a trauma (sprain, fatigue, infection, etc.), it encapsulates itself in some manner for healing purposes (inflammation, swelling, spasm, etc.). Normally free-flowing currents are disrupted and will circumvent the area of trauma and travel around it. This happens because electrical currents always take the path of least resistance (best conduction), so the flow of electricity in the traumatized area is significantly reduced. Enhanced micro-current treatment applied appropriately to the involved tissues or organ pathways can restore and recover optimal self-regulation functions.

In Traditional Chinese Medical terms, we often describe body types as hot and cold. For example, catching a cold means a coldness has infiltrated the body. Food is also classified as hot or cold, so when you catch a cold, you can remedy it with hot foods. An example of a hot food would be ginger, which can be added to cooking or taken in capsule form for convenience. Eating too many hot foods or too many cold foods can result in an imbalance in the body. If symptoms aren’t alleviated, check in with a health practitioner.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury is commonly seen in sports such as soccer, rugby, and skiing. Although many individuals initially recover well, the ongoing instability often prevents return to sports and leads to further knee injury, and the risk of developing future osteoarthritis becomes increased. Bracing is rarely sufficient. Surgical reconstruction performed early, within 3-6 weeks, helps to minimize the risk of further injury. ACL surgery should be treated as an urgent matter: assessment, diagnosis, and surgery can usually be completed within a few weeks. The athlete, elite, or weekend-warrior can then start early rehabilitation to maximize the benefits of the knee reconstruction.

We are living WAY longer than we used to. Did you know that the average age of death in 1900 was 47? Today it is 87. This means that we really need to take care of ourselves, not only physically, but mentally as well. Being on the planet longer also means that we will go through many more transitions throughout our lifetime: births, deaths, jobs, house moves; the list goes on. Transitions can cause us stress, so make sure you have good outlets and sounding boards as you move through life. A safe, trusting relationship gives us support and perspective in times of change.

People are living longer these days, and sometimes retirement requires supplemental income. Retiring early can mean that what you have saved isn’t enough to cover your costs long-term. Before making the decision to retire early, it’s important that you think carefully about your finances. Having an in-depth conversation about your finances with your advisor can ensure you make the best decision possible about retiring. Semi-retirement could be an option, giving you time to save more money or cover costs while on the road to full retirement. Working with your advisor to understand your situation can ensure you retire successfully.