The Denton Record-Chronicle invited a handful of local experts to meditate on reasonable changes we might all make in 2010.

These reflections won’t help you shave 5 inches off your belly in six months, or teach you how to organize your life in 24 hours. Instead, these reflections share some baby steps toward a New Year that is better than the recession-whipped 2009.

Meditations on a 2010 with less fear and anxiety

By Rabbi Geoffrey Dennis

Is there any worse slavery than slavery to fear? And in 2009 it seems like we have all been in bondage to the household of anxiety. We cannot banish danger, but we can curb fear. How? My primary prescription: A little common sense.

Dr. Samuel Shem, author of the medical satire <ITAL> The House of God, wrote something very wise: "If you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras." As a culture we seem to have become prisoners of the peripheral. Our new assumption is that the conspiratorial, even the paranoid, best explains what happens. This undermines rather than helps our prudent decision-making. A classic example of this is the American fear of vaccinating themselves and their children. Forty percent of Americans fear the cure more than the disease. But a quick look at 2009 finds deaths from N1H1: 10,582 worldwide, 90% of them under 65. Contrast: Of 60,000,000 million doses of N1H1 vaccine administered in the US, not a single vaccine death reported so far.

An even older source of wisdom assures us: “Be not afraid of sudden terror” (Prov. 3:25). Perhaps the most pervasive fear I’ve heard in 2009 is the fear of terrorism. Yes, terrorism exists, and events like Fort Hood will continue to happen. But acts of terror, however awful, are localized and not existential threats to our nation. In a population of 310,000,000 people, you are more 1500 times more likely to be killed in a car accident than to be victim of a politically or religiously-motivated attack.

And, since I am a rabbi, along with common sense, in 2010 I prescribe a little faith. “Fear not, for I am with you.” (Gen 26:24).

Geoffrey W. Dennis is the rabbi serving Congregation Kol Ami in Flower Mound, the sole synagogue in Denton County. He is a regular columnist for The Denton Record-Chronicle.

A 2010 with more spiritual depth

By Rev. Christy Thomas

"Do you not know . . .?" so begins the biblical writer with this reminder:  "Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit." Our physical selves, these hodgpodges of muscle and bone, blood and fat, brain cells and eyelashes, together constitute a place of holy habitation for the Spirit of God. What simple act would show welcome to this honored guest whose presence generally remains unacknowledged? 
There's an old, old song called "Count Your Blessings." The easy tune bounces along with words long out of fashion: "Count your blessings/name them one by one/Count your blessings/see what God hath done!/Count your blessings/ name them one by one/And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."
This simple act showers hospitality on the Holy Guest: Say "thank you."  In other words, just count those blessings. Name them, number them, nod your head up and down, nix negativity for a bit. Can you breathe today?  That's a place to start.  Do you have a choice of clothes? Wow -- that's a big one. Most in the world don't. Can you name a friend? Then you wallow in riches. Does your heart still pump? Then savor the miracle of life! 
Dip your toe into this water of thankfulness. Try it each evening before drifting off to sleep. Say to the Spirit of God that lives within you, "thank you." And then call them out, count them, and sleep the sleep of contentment. You will be amazed at what God has done.

Rev. Christy Thomas is the pastor of First United Methodist Church of Krum. You can reach her by calling 940-482-3482 or by e-mail at christy@krumumc.org.

Nutrition for a healthier 2010

By Nancy M. DiMarco, PhD, RD, CSSD

So often, health experts recommend beginning a new year with enormous changes in lifestyle. I would like to make recommendations that are easy to implement for three nutrients that may have enormous impacts on your health.

The three nutrients are iodine, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin D.

Iodine: An essential part of the thyroid hormones that help to regulate metabolism, body temperature, reproduction, growth, production of new blood cells, nerve and muscle function and much more. As a part of the thyroid hormones, Iodine is responsible for the rate at which cells use oxygen, and so may change the rate of resting metabolism. Iodine might play a role in preventing breast cancer, given the low rate of breast cancer among East Asian women. The Japanese consume almost 90 times more iodine daily than Americans. Although the recommended dietary allowance is 150 micrograms daily, the typical American diet has eliminated most of the important sources, including iodized salt, milk, eggs, seafood, bread and plants grown in iodine rich soil. 

Omega -3 fatty acids: are fats found in a variety of foods -- canola, soybean, and flaxseed oils, walnuts, and fatty fishes such as mackerel, salmon, and sardines. These fats have been shown to reduce the risks of heart disease and stroke, prevent blood clots, protect against irregular heartbeat, lower blood pressure, and enhance the immune system. The adequate intake of one of the essential omega -3 fatty acids, linolenic acid, is 1.6 grams per day for men and 1.1 grams a day for women. Some functional foods such as enriched eggs or fish oil capsules can significantly increase the intake of these valuable fats.

Vitamin D: One of the most powerful hormones produced in the body that can be initiated by exposure to sunlight for 10 -15 minutes per day or obtained from the diet. Vitamin D’s major role in the body is in maintenance of bone growth and development, but a renewed interest in this vitamin has occurred because of evidence of rickets among our young children as a result of lack of sun exposure, lack of milk consumption, and not including other sources of vitamin D in the diet. Recent evidence suggests Vitamin D may play a much larger role in enhancing the immune system and protection against tuberculosis, inflammation, multiple sclerosis, hypertension, and some forms of cancer. Although the recommended dietary allowance is 5 – 15 micrograms a day, many experts are calling for the recommendation to be increased to as much as 125 micrograms per day.

Recommended reading: Dieting for Dummies by Jane Kirby, RD

Recommended practice to gain health: Schedule an appointment with a registered dietitian to determine your intake of iodine, Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin D.

Eat more seafood, walnuts, fatty fishes, get out in the sunlight every day, and start to take charge of your own health. See a dietitian and begin seeing great results. Visit the Exercise and Sports Nutrition Clinic at TWU and jump start your health this New Year. (40 898 2799 or http://www.twu.edu/womens-health/clinic.asp

Dr. DiMarco is a Professor of Nutrition and Food Sciences and Director, Institute for Women’s Health at Texas Woman’s University.

Tips for a greener 2010

By Todd Spinks

Anywhere you go – from home, the office, around town, and such – can be an opportunity to help save the planet. Here are a few tips to help you stick to your resolution:

At home

Reuse before you recycle. Bring plastic grocery bags to the store for fresh produce or reuse plastic bags as trashcan liners. Pass along hand-me-downs to your friends and family or transform old T-shirts into cleaning rags.

Invest in products that last. If the thought of reusing a Ziploc bag is terrifying, purchase reusable containers made from glass that are microwave and dishwasher safe.

Consider the packaging. Buy in bulk whenever possible or opt for products that use minimal packaging: bagged cereal, OB Tampons and concentrates.

At work

Always remember to turn off the lights and electronics before leaving. If the New Year means a new computer, purchase an Energy Star-rated laptop instead of a desktop – they are up to 70 percent more energy-efficient.

Whenever possible, print and copy on the duplex setting. Also, place recycling bins next to printers or copy machines.

On the go

Carry a reusable, Bisphenol A (BPA) -free water bottle. Not only will you save hundreds of dollars in bringing your own drink, but you’ll also save thousands of plastic bottles from being tossed into landfills. Also, stash a few reusable grocery bags in your car just in case you get to the store without one.

Recommended reading: 365 Ways to Live Green: Your Everyday Guide to Saving the Environment, by Diane Gow McDilda; The Lazy Environmentalist: Your Guide to Easy, Stylish, Green Living, by Josh Dorfman; Wake Up and Smell the Planet: The Non-Pompous, Non-Preachy Grist Guide to Greening Your Day, by Grist Magazine, Brangien Davis; It's Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living, by Crissy Trask

Todd Spinks is the sustainability coordinator at University of North Texas.