January/February 2002
Feature Articles
What's Newz?
by Dee J. Findlay
Holistic Health Q & A
by John DeCosmo, D.O.
Of September 11, stress, getting back
to basics, and God is in the details.
What are... Sweeteners?
by Robert Roman
Not all sweeteners are "equal."
A healthfood store manager guides us through some of the options.
EnergyUpDate
by David Findlay
UNCOMMON SENSE ! - Who's next?
David Findlay
Minerals from Mother Earth
by Judy Power
Featured stones for January and February:
Onyx and Opal.
Your Astro Guide
by Janet Sciales
Articles on the theme "Freedom"
Freedom From Fear
by Kelly Menges
Freeing ourselves from limiting beliefs
to become connected with our true nature.
No Limits
by Yvette Monet
The freedom to live life as an expression
of love.
Spiritual Freedom
by Rev. Pat Cross
The inner freedom that comes with the
recognition of our divine nature.
Psychological Freedom
by Patrick Plaskett
Increasing our freedom by changing
the reality in our minds.
Hormonal Freedom
by Lela Lilyquist
Of the harmful effects of synthetic
hormone treatment for menopause and the growing awareness of more natural
approaches.
Free To Create
by Ken Sutton
The freedom to create our own lives...
both the good and the bad.
Freedom Within Bounds
by Rev. Stephanie Kubilius
How the boundaries of a relationship,
such as marriage, can actually provide greater freedom to grow.
Seven Basic Freedoms
by Rev. Linda Lou Kearns
Seven ways to exercise our freedom
to become what we really are.
A Free Mind
by Charles Larsen
How we as individuals may restrict
our inner freedom.
The Age of Freedom
by Jan Carter
Of plants and asteroids, gods and goddesses.
The Freedom Solution
by Constance Joy Angeles, Esq.
A nine-step approach to freedom
Natural Health Q & A
by John DeCosmo, D.O.
Question
What is going on these days? Has the whole world gone mad?
Answer
Since Sept 11 our lives have all changed dramatically in many ways. The
events following that day have not been too reassuring, to say the least!
While it may seem chaotic, random and senseless, it is our duty to take
the initiative and make some sense of these events. We do this both for
ourselves, our loved ones, our country, and our planet. First and foremost
is the realization that we are fighting a nebulous enemy who is unapproachable
and difficult to confront. How do you respond to a perceived threat that
you cannot confront? There is no doubt that fear will be your first companion
it is called survival instinct. From here it would be prudent to asses
the unknown (where fear hides) and educate ourselves in a rational sense
(because fear tends to be irrational). This might be accomplished by keeping
current on news affairs, observing parameters of bio-terrorism (an outbreak,
of whatever, in your backyard is a much bigger threat than across the state),
and availing yourself of the actual facts (instead of the internet rumors).
For example, the U.S. postal service handles 15 billion pieces of mail annually
and there have been about half a dozen pieces of tainted mail: so on any
given day your odds of receiving tainted mail are about one in forty million!
At this point, your chance of contracting a bio-terrorist illness or dying
from one are about one in a hundred million. In other words you take more
of a chance each time you get into your car! I am not saying throw caution
to the wind and take your next vacation in sunny Afghanistan! Be prudent,
address your fears and anxieties with the facts, and exercise reasonable
caution. Once again, prudence involves things that you can change, NOT things
that you can't change!
Question
What else can be done when dealing with these stressful times?
Answer
There's that word again, STRESS. I'm so tired of that word that I wish they
would invent a replacement! Alas, we shall deal with our old 'friend' just
the same. The most common-sense advice is to go back to basics. What is
really important every day as opposed to all the frivolity that we usually
engage in? Today more than ever, our possessions big or small are very valuable.
By possessions I mean the things that define our individual niche in the
world, things we may believe are not so important but actually are. This
includes our careers, social interactions, group activities, family activities
and how they affect others. We underestimate how much we each in our own
part add to the whole. Taking pride in what we do and taking account of
what a difference our efforts make is the hard part not the getting
up out of bed hating our job and cursing our misfortune. The latter is the
easy 'cop-out' answer. Take stock where you make a difference. It's not
the big things. God is in the details. Just taking time to make someone
else smile and appreciating the miracle of that moment. A kind word or deed
is contagious and that is the type of epidemic that we want to spread! Actually,
all the intense pressure and threatening overtones help us to solidify in
our minds and lives what is most important to each of us. Please take note
of what life presents to you during these times.
Question
What do you mean by "back to basics" and "God is in the details"?
Answer
These statements emphasize very clearly how important each and every detail
of our life is. Many people feel their lives are unimportant and non-contributory.
What this attitude does is allows us to 'fall asleep at the wheel' during
daily routines. Have you noticed people who don't even see you when they
interact with you? Many of us may be guilty of this to some extent. We must
make every effort to stay awake for our life and not let any opportunity
pass us by. Be there when you interact with people. Make the extra effort
to celebrate your life! Say "hello." Look people in the eye when
addressing them. Approach events with vitality and put your best foot forward.
Appreciate what you have, not what you don't have. The true heroes in life
are the ones who show up every day and participate to their fullest extent!
Any one of us can be that hero or heroine.
In closing, I think it's important to remember that we as Americans represent Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. It is very important that every day we exercise these rights, to live life to its fullest, to truly appreciate the freedoms that we have, and to pursue happiness with all the zeal we can muster! Life is not a spectator sport. You only get out what you put into it!
John B. DeCosmo D.O. is an osteopathic physician board certified in family practice. He is medical director of Millennium Medical, a holistic healthcare facility specializing in the integration of medical and alternative practices. St. Petersburg, FL (727) 541-2675.
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