Friday, January 9, 2015

Truman Blogspot Article: Mentalis Strain

Truman Orthodontics Link: Orthognathic Surgery, Skeletal Discrepancies, and Mentalis Strain
I found this very informative and amazing blog over orthodontics. This particular post is over Mentalis Strain (chin muscle formation problems). I feel like it gives an extraordinary example of mentalis strain. Take a look! A huge transformation is shown! #knowyourface:)

Wednesday, January 7, 2015

Updates: Welcome to 2015!!!

I though I'd write a more personal blog post for this....

Soooo...where to begin? It's been crazy! The last five months have been a whirlwind of great changes and challenges. I started my studies at CU, which are pretty intense. I haven't stepped foot in a classroom for YEARS, so I was in a for a big surprise. I've been teaching A LOT; high school, middle school, and elementary music levels, including all my other studies and work at the same time. I'm a part of NAfME, and selected to teach in the CU MSE program this Spring, and received a scholarship which has helped out tremendously.

I've made many friends, love the city, and love everything I've been learning. I've also been working on preparing a lecture for next academic year over musician injuries and disorders/ musician health. I've been very fortunate to have friends, colleagues, and some professors who are supportive and helping me organize this. I'm also hoping to present at some of the music education conferences.

Despite having not much time to write for my blog, things are good with my dystonia. The pain in the right side of my face has subdued, yet I will still have another x-ray and MRI scan of that area to check for arthritis, etc. any other problems that may be occurring just encase. That will happen over the summer.

I've been very fortunate to have many musicians who are struggling with dystonia or an injury contact me! Thank you for all the helpful resources sent, your stories, questions, and support. I'm glad we are in it together, and I know we all are fighting a hard battle to overcome this huge setback. It's inspiring to see so many people willing to open up about what they are going through, what they have learned, and reaching out to others. I swear, it's been a huge movement, and I'm just extremely thrilled and overcome with joy knowing the awareness of musician's dystonia is heightened more so now than ever. I've seen a huge flux in my blog views; reaching 30,000+ ...which is both exciting and embarrassing for me at the same time....I'm extremely honored and humbled. If you were all here, and if I could afford it, I'd buy all a beer! (or wine...or something great!) hehehe

This year should be a huge one for me, and I'm looking forward to it, no matter how exhausted I am....I can't even begin to explain how happy I am doing what I love!!! Cheers to a wonderful year and may miracles and blessings continue to flow our way! Have hope, and see in yourself what you see in others; we all have the potential to accomplish something great, one step at a time, even if it goes unnoticed!