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NatNews: Issue 223

Mon, 22 Jun 2026 11:59:27 +0100

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June 22, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 223

DO YOU PREFER NOISE OR COMPLETE SILENCE WHEN YOU SLEEP?

Some people can fall asleep with consistent noise surrounding them, while others need dead silence.

There are different types of color noise, three of which are the most common—white noise (which is more of a static-like noise) includes sounds such as fans, air conditionings, and vacuums; pink noise (which is a constant ambient background noise that filters out distractions) includes sounds of steady rain, rustling wind, and waves crashing; brown noise (which is more of a rumbling noise) includes sounds like roaring jet engines, thunder, and a running washing machine.

While some research suggests that noise is beneficial to helping people fall and stay asleep, other studies contradict such notions. However, it’s also possible that the outcome is entirely contingent upon the individual.

Hawaii resident Tara Janke often uses a noise machine when she doesn’t feel like falling asleep to her comfort TV shows and on nights when she can’t quiet her brain and needs extra help. She said ocean noise is her go-to option and the only one she prefers.

“For me, the sound of the ocean is one of the most relaxing sounds,” she said. “Plus, something about the constant noise helps my brain power down, especially if I focus on the sound and rhythm.”

Dallas-area resident Kirsten Kraske said she turns on a box fan every night so that she simply has some constant white noise going.

“It helps my brain calm down,” she said. “I tend to overthink a lot, and hearing something other than that can be super helpful.”

Unlike Janke and Kraske, there are also individuals, including Dallas resident Damon Yousefy, who never use noise to help them fall asleep or sleep better through the night.

“I’m a light sleeper and prefer complete silence,” he said. “I have had trips where I’m close enough to hear the waves, and while that did not negatively affect my sleep, it also didn’t help.”

Yousefy acknowledged that his need for a noise-free environment at night is likely related to other areas of his life that require him to remain focused without distractions.

“I think I prefer complete silence when I sleep since I’m programmed to need silence for other things, like working, as well,” he said. “Any type of noise causes my mind to wander and not sleep.”

Sometimes different environments can also impact the quality and ease of one’s sleep. Yousefy said he travels quite often for work and generally has no issues falling asleep in hotel rooms, as long as he is in a quiet setting and has a sufficient amount of time to wind down.

“While I do not use any noise while sleeping, I listen to calming music while getting ready for bed, and that helps me relax and feel ready to rest,” he said. “Lo-fi music, jazz, or a chill alternative playlist tells my body it’s time to fall asleep soon.”

Kraske acknowledged that she does find it challenging to fall asleep and/or stay asleep when sleeping outside of her own bedroom, but she has found a solution that works for her in such situations.

“I downloaded a noise app on my phone for those reasons, and it’s greatly helped my life,” she said.

Like Kraske, Janke said she doesn’t sleep well in new places and noted that she thinks it’s likely that the different sleeping habits and inclinations of different individuals are related to their personalities and/or the way their brains and thought processes work.

“It’s probably why there are so many sleep studies,” she said.

Certain research has found that sleep quality and preferences can often be influenced by enduring patterns of thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Kraske said she believes that the desire for noise or complete silence is related to the way a person’s brain functions.

“I think people who do tend to be overstimulated and overthink likely want that noise to help them focus on something else,” she said.

Like Kraske, Yousefy also cites the inner processes of the mind as impacts on how individuals best fall asleep and remain sleeping well through the night.

“I think the way people sleep is definitely related to how their brains work,” he said. “I also think that we develop habits when we are young and are less likely to break them later because that would be fixing what isn’t broken.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Corals are animals, not plants.

"MORNING, MORNING!" IS MORE THAN A MERE GREETING

People don’t always know what others are going through, and sometimes what seems like a small act can truly change a person’s life.

If you have ever been running, walking, or cycling at Dallas’ White Rock Lake on a busy weekend morning, you’ve likely seen and/or heard a man on a bike enthusiastically saying “Morning, morning!” to everyone he passes.

For the past seven years, Dallas resident Joe Chatham has been giving such greetings to countless individuals. He originally began doing so after returning from Colorado and a descent of Mount Evans (now called Mount Blue Sky). During that trek, Chatham said he began wondering about the purpose behind smiling and saying hello to others.

“I read about a man who jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge and stated that he would not have jumped if only someone had acknowledged him,” he said. “When I returned and started saying ‘morning, morning,’ it brought about refreshing smiles. Proverbs 11:25 says ‘whoever refreshes others will be refreshed,’ and that came into the conversation when people stopped me to ask why I say ‘morning, morning.’”

Chatham said what motivates him to keep greeting and acknowledging people and spreading positivity every day is living in a purpose-driven way.

“The great Justin Bieber has a song called ‘Purpose,’” he said. “You (God) have given me the best gift that I’ve ever known. You give me purpose every day.”

And while Chatham may not know every single person at the lake when he rides, it doesn’t take long for them to know who he is. Dallas resident Ben Sewell does not know Chatham personally but has been impacted by him simply as a result of Chatham’s well-known greeting. Sewell said Chatham serves as a great role model for how individuals should all be treating each other.

“His consistent positive energy when he’s out there riding (and his customary greeting) always makes me smile, sometimes before he even gets within hailing range,” he said. “No matter if I’m running or riding at the lake, mid-workout, or in recovery mode, he’s always a beacon of happiness that makes me forget my worries (if only for a short time), and I’m inspired to pay the kindness forward as he does.”

Sewell added that while he tries not to copy Chatham, as “there’s only one Joe,” he certainly appreciates the energy the beloved biker brings to the city.

“We all get wrapped up in our own worlds sometimes, and it’s people like him who make that conscious effort to put out a simple positive vibe by way of greeting that makes his presence (and White Rock Lake) truly enjoyable,” he said.

In addition to seeking to make people feel seen and acknowledged, Chatham, a retired Dallas police officer, leads a program called Empower Your Future, which helps underprivileged students, encouraging them to believe in and pursue their goals and to know that their dreams are attainable. Chatham said having children of his own and wanting to ensure that he never missed out on any events and activities in which they were involved prompted him to want to help provide support to others.

“I felt that many children did not have parental involvement like mine, and I had a desire to show them that someone out there somewhere cared,” he said. “The outcome I hope to achieve is for them to keep my equation in the back of their minds—it’s endurance + perseverance + education + refreshing others = no limitations. Then they will delay gratification, not quit, and know that there is always hope.”

One event in which Chatham and students participate each year is the Dallas Marathon. They post up between miles 15 and 16, provide smiles and waves to runners, and wear matching shirts with three names on the back to honor two friends Chatham lost to suicide and another who died in a car wreck. For Chatham, this is yet another opportunity to boost people’s spirits while showing kindness and encouragement.

“You never know what people are going through and who needs a smile and greeting,” he said.

After all, such simple gestures can have significant and lasting impacts. “Morning, morning!” might only be two words, but it can communicate much more, and Chatham hopes as many people as possible will receive his desired message: “A ‘Morning, morning!’ and a smile and wave can light your day.”

“Someone out there somewhere may need it,” he said.

And the light and positivity Chatham seeks to provide is certainly felt by others, including Sewell, who said he believes that Chatham is “exceptional” in creating an enjoyable environment.

“I believe that people are generally cordial or polite to one another, but it’s the rare few like him who go above and beyond to project outward friendliness,” he said. “Texas used to be a place where individuals like him were common, but times have changed, and you don’t see as much of it as you used to. We all need more ‘Morning, morning!’ in our lives.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

If you need tips on how to protect your hair from a monsoon-ish downpour, I’m your girl

Upcoming
Events

Monday, June 22: Free Cult Classic Movie Monday — Fast Times at Ridgemont High at Sundown at Granada
Tuesday, June 23: Shakira at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — Bad Boys at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, June 24: JINJER at House of Blues Dallas
Thursday, June 25: Party on the Pitch — USA vs. Türkiye at The Star; Candlelight — Mozart vs. Beethoven at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas; Jess Ray at the Kessler
Friday, June 26: Taylorville — A Tribute to Taylor Swift at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory; ABBA Tribute — Waterloo at Legacy Hall
Saturday, June 27: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Daniel Geneen at Dallas Comedy Club
Sunday, June 28: Dallas Wings vs. Minnesota Lynx at College Park Center; Family Field Day at Globe Life Field; Cycling Group Ride at Community Beer Co.

NatNews: Issue 222

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 11:59:24 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

June 15, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 222

WEIGHTED VESTS CAN CREATE ADDED BENEFITS TO WORKOUTS

It’s not uncommon to see individuals on local trails or at the gym wearing weighted vests as they are going about their normal workout routines.

But unlike low-rise jeans and frosted tips, these vests aren’t a mere fashion fad many people hope will disappear.

Incorporating the use of a weighted vest during exercise can result in several benefits, including burning more calories, improved cardiovascular fitness, better posture, increased muscle strength and endurance, and a stronger overall core.

Dallas resident Keith Jensen—who is currently training for Ultra-Trail du Mont-Blanc (UTMB), an approximately 175-kilometer (108ish miles) single-stage mountain trail race in Europe—said he uses a weighted vest usually once or twice each week, primarily during steep uphill hiking and incline treadmill workouts and strength sessions.

“Since I’m training for UTMB, my focus is building climbing strength and muscular endurance,” he said. “The vest helps increase the training load without adding unnecessary running mileage.”

Jensen added that for him, a weighted vest is a simple way to make the body work harder without necessarily moving faster or going farther.

“It helps build strength, endurance, and durability, especially in the legs,” he said. “For mountain racing, it also does a great job of preparing you for the fatigue you’ll feel deep into a long race.”

Dallas resident and certified wellness coach Marie Puebla said she initially began wearing a weighted vest because she wanted to challenge herself in a new way and improve her overall fitness without constantly increasing speed or adding repetitions.

“Since I enjoy running and functional training, I was interested in finding a tool that could help build strength and endurance at the same time,” she said. “I also liked that it could make simple movements, like walking or bodyweight exercises, more demanding and efficient.”

Puebla said she incorporates a weighted vest into her training one to three times per week, depending on what her specific goals are.

“I primarily wear a weighted vest during walks, certain strength circuits, and occasionally during bodyweight conditioning workouts,” she said. “I do not wear it during every workout because I want to avoid unnecessary stress on my joints and allow my body adequate recovery.”

Puebla noted that she opts for the use of the vest during the workouts she mentioned because it increases the level of intensity without requiring more complicated equipment.

“During walks, it helps improve cardiovascular endurance and calorie expenditure,” she said. “During bodyweight exercises, it adds resistance that can help develop muscular endurance and strength.”

Puebla also acknowledged the aforementioned benefits working out with a weighted vest can provide.

“It increases the overall demand placed on the body, which can improve muscular strength and endurance,” she said. “It may also enhance cardiovascular fitness because the heart and lungs have to work harder to support movement with additional load.”

Puebla added that another advantage of wearing a weighted vest is an increase in bone loading, which may contribute to better bone health over time.

“Weighted vests can also improve posture, balance, and functional strength because they mimic real-life situations in which we carry extra weight,” she said. “Additionally, they can make lower-impact activities, such as walking, more challenging without requiring high-impact exercises.”

While adding a weighted vest during exercise can provide positive returns, individuals with back or neck injuries, tendonitis, or arthritis in certain areas should be cautious in doing so or avoid weighted vests altogether to prevent additional pain and strain.

For those who are able to use weighted vests, though, Jensen said this extra piece of gear is absolutely helpful to be incorporated more often for the right workouts.

“Walking, hiking, and strength training with a weighted vest can be a great way to increase fitness without spending more time training,” he said. “For me, I use it strategically to prepare for the demands of UTMB, but I can absolutely see more beneficial usage for overall training.”

While there are certainly benefits to using a weighted vest, to avoid injury, it’s important to start slowly and not be overly ambitious too early. It’s generally recommended to begin with a vest weight of 5 percent to 10 percent of one’s body weight.

“I think more people could benefit from incorporating weighted vests into their workout routines, but it should be done gradually and appropriately,” Puebla said. “Weighted vests are not necessary for everyone, and individuals should have a solid foundation of movement and strength before adding extra resistance.”

DID YOU KNOW?

One single rice seed can produce more than 3,000 grains of rice.

LOCAL BAND CREATES MUSIC THAT ALLOWS YOU TO FEEL WHAT YOU NEED TO FEEL

Sometimes all it takes are mutual friends, jello shots, and tattoos to bring two people together to form a bond that can grow into something strong and meaningful.

It didn’t take Dallas residents Braden Keefer and Kasem Abdullah too long after meeting to realize their shared passion for music and eventually form the band Déjà Bloom, a name signifying repeated and continual growth. Keefer (guitar and vocals), Abdullah (guitar), Mike O’Brien (bass), and Andrew Ehrlich (drums) make up the band, whose first single, “Redacted,” released in January of this year. In April, Déjà Bloom’s “Eeyore” then made its way to streaming platforms.

Abdullah said a unique aspect of the band is the way it fuses several genres.

“We blend Midwest emo, alternative indie, and pop-punk to capture pre-memories and complex intrapersonal emotions through sound,” he said. “Every single lyric was written with meaning and intention, and every musical arrangement backing those lyrics was deeply thought out.”

Abdullah said he enjoys several opportunities that being part of a band brings, as it is such a multifaceted experience, noting that the writing and creative process are the most rewarding for him, while playing shows is the most fun.

“The relationship between the members is also super special to me,” he said. “You are all working together to create a unique piece of art, and naturally, you build a close personal bond through that. I’m incredibly grateful for those connections.”

Like Abdullah, Keefer said he also enjoys the camaraderie he has developed with his bandmates, adding that creating music in this way is something he has always wanted to do.

“It’s also a great way for me to flex my creative muscle, which is a skill that I think is lost on many people in society today,” he said. “I would also be lying if I said I didn’t get an endorphin rush from performing in front of other people and giving them a fun show to enjoy, but of course I say that as the ‘front man.’”

As for the creating music component, Keefer said what he appreciates most is the journey he takes while doing so.

“It’s almost like solving a puzzle that you’ve had to put together yourself—you not only have to design the puzzle, but then you have to find ways to put the pieces together,” he said. “The unique thing about songwriting is that it’s a helpful way of getting out and processing experiences or feelings that you might have, and what’s even more unique than that is that the audience can hear it and interpret it in their own way.”

Similar to Keefer, Abdullah also sees the process of creating music as a deeply felt personal one, noting that it provides him a space to be unequivocally himself.

“It allows me to express emotions that I probably wouldn’t talk about with people on a regular day-to-day basis,” he said. “One of my favorite quotes is ‘art is how we decorate space; music is how we decorate time.’ Writing is my way of putting a little stamp on a moment of time in the universe. Each song is a timestamp of how I was feeling right then and a reflection of the memories I shared with specific people and situations. The ability to craft clever lyrics to describe a moment and then back them up with the sonics of a guitar and other instruments is an out-of-body experience for me.”

And like many musicians who also use their artistic expressions to connect with their listeners, Abdullah acknowledged that as human beings, people all go through similar experiences. For the songs Déjà Bloom has written, he hopes that those who hear them can listen and feel a little less alone in their own emotions and experiences.

“Music has the power to heal,” he said. “Whenever I face negative emotions—or even positive ones, for that matter—music has always gotten me through. I hope our music resonates with people on that same level and helps them navigate difficult times.”

Abdullah said he doesn’t necessarily sit down and write music with an audience’s reaction in mind, though. Rather, he writes it more for himself, acknowledging that it’s entirely therapeutic and enjoyable for him.

“I’ve always believed that everyone hears music through the lens of their own life, so my ultimate hope is that whatever someone takes from our songs helps them navigate whatever they’re going through at the moment,” he said. “But at the end of the day, it doesn’t always have to be that heavy. If it isn’t that deep for a listener and they just vibe with the sonics and the energy, then that’s awesome, too. I just want it to hit them exactly how they need it to.”

Keefer added that he also simply wants individuals to have an enjoyable time and feel good while listening to the band’s music, regardless of whether or not the “dark indie” genre is their general style.

“I think Déjà Bloom has something for everyone,” he said. “Even if we aren’t your favorite band, I think we can at least give you something that allows you to feel whatever it is you want to feel.”

Unsurprisingly, being in a group of different individuals with different perspectives and opinions can certainly create challenges at times. However, the members of Déjà Bloom make concerted efforts to ensure a collaborative process in which everyone has input.

“We always make sure to hear each other out, even if we aren’t crazy about the idea,” Keefer said. “We also almost always will try their idea and come to a consensus on if we all like it or not or, if we can’t, modify it to something that we all really like. We have four very strong personalities, but we also have a high level of respect for each other, so we always manage to come back to a compromise or an agreement to make the best possible song we can in the moment.”

Abdullah echoed the importance of maintaining that respect for one another and the willingness to try “absolutely anything.”

“An idea might make the song better, or it might just allow you to hear it in a way you didn’t originally envision but end up enjoying more,” he said. “That open-mindedness is critical.”

Abdullah noted a specific example regarding the recording of “Redacted” in the studio, during which he wanted to add a scream instead of a vocal harmony at the end. While Abdullah, Ehrlich, and O’Brien are fans of heavy metal music, Keefer is not, but the band still tried the idea to see how it sounded.

“It actually fit the track beautifully and made the final mix,” he said. “I’m incredibly glad to have band members who are that open-minded and who allow the creative process to take its own shape for each track. It takes teamwork to make anything work. This isn’t a solo project, and a little piece of all of us is in Déjà Bloom, so we want to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard.”

As Déjà Bloom continues to grow and create more music (be on the lookout for the new EP and songs like “Retrospect” and “Dopamine”), Abdullah expressed his gratitude to anyone who has ever supported the group and listened to its music. For him, being a part of this experience is truly meaningful and impactful.

“I want to make music I am genuinely proud of,” he said. “I want to make that music with people I love and have a fun time performing those songs for our fans. Déjà Bloom isn’t some monetary endeavor for us to ‘hit it big.’ It’s about writing real music and having fun with the people who support us while we do it.”

Keefer, who noted that he has never made it this far as a musician, played in bands during high school and college but said it never got to the point of actually recording music professionally and putting it on Spotify or other streaming services for everybody to listen to at any time.

“Honestly, I want to keep doing this because I love to do it, and I think that opinion is shared with my bandmates,” he said. “Obviously, we would love to be big enough to where we could profit off of it and make it our jobs, but at the end of the day, we just want to share the same love and joy of music with others. I have always said that, ideally, we would be big enough to make the profit that allows us to live while also maintaining a level of anonymity that allows me to go to the grocery store and not worry about people recognizing me.”

You can listen to Déjà Bloom on Spotify and Apple Music and follow the band on Instagram to stay updated on new releases and upcoming shows

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Thank you, Tacodeli, for helping us protect our peace

Upcoming
Events

Monday, June 15: Dallas Wings vs. Las Vegas Aces at College Park Center
Tuesday, June 16: Free Rooftop Movie — The Breakfast Club at Sundown at Granada; Rangers vs. Twins at Globe Life Field
Wednesday, June 17: Summer Walker at the American Airlines Center; Global Watch Party — England vs. Croatia at Klyde Warren Park; Khalid at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Thursday, June 18: A$AP Rocky at the American Airlines Center; Frisco RoughRiders vs. Arkansas Travelers at Riders Field; Candlelight — Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas
Friday, June 19: Juneteenth Fashion Show 2026 at Legacy Hall; The Boho Market at Klyde Warren Park; The Molly Ringwalds at House of Blues Dallas
Saturday, June 20: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Dallas Wings vs. Chicago Sky at College Park Center; Free Mat Pilates at Halperin Park; Queen Tribute — Queen Legacy at Legacy Hall
Sunday, June 21: Rangers vs. Padres at Globe Life Field

NatNews: Issue 221

Mon, 08 Jun 2026 11:59:25 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

June 8, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 221

THANKS A LOT, SINKHOLE

Summer activities at White Rock Lake in Dallas have always been hot and sweaty, and this summer, they will also have the added element of detours.

Dallas City Council District 9 member Paula Blackmon provided the update in her weekly newsletter and posted on the official Facebook page that beginning on the week of June 15, part of the White Rock Lake path will be closed for two to three months for the grouting of approximately 2,800 feet of an abandoned 36-inch diameter wastewater main to fix a sinkhole issue that arose earlier this year.

During this time period, the outside westbound lane of Garland Road between E. Lawther Drive and White Rock Creek will be closed. It will also not be an option for runners and cyclists to complete a standard loop around the lake, as White Rock Trail between E. Lawther Drive and Winsted Drive will be closed.

Dallas-area resident and runner Rachel Balthrop Mendoza was initially a bit frustrated upon learning of the trail’s partial closure, as she was just beginning to get back out there on a regular basis for her long runs.

“But I get it—all in the name of progress and eaglet preservation,” she said. “We’ll be fine. I’ll be fine. Everything will be fine.”

The bird situation Balthrop Mendoza mentioned refers to an eaglet that attempted to fly from its nest and was grounded, resulting in the closure of E. Lawther Drive from the Stone Tables playground to Dreyfuss Club Point to keep humans away until that eaglet and the others in the nest learn to fly. The closure for the sinkhole, however, is unrelated to the detour concerning the eaglets.

Dallas resident and triathlete Mike Hart only recently became aware of the sinkhole problem that will cause some changes in his normal training regimens, and while he isn’t thrilled with the upcoming adjustments he will need to make, he understands that such occurrences are often necessary and unavoidable.

“I first learned about the White Rock section closure from Natalie Merrill, the Dallas runner and the author of NatNews,” he said. “My initial reaction was pretty annoyed because my Saturday morning routine is typically riding loops around White Rock and the trails near it. Also, it’s fun to try to hit Strava PRs around the lake, so that will have to wait. I’m all in for improving the trails, and I’m a firm believer of deferred gratification, so if the payoff leads to improvements, I’m happy to wait.”

Dallas resident and runner Alfonzo Gonzalez, who leads the Train Pegasus local running group and coaches hundreds of athletes throughout the world, said he isn’t too bothered by the temporary closure, as his group meets at various rotating locations on Saturday mornings, so there are other options available to ensure that the runners get their mileage without their training being significantly impacted.

“We have alternative routes, although they won’t be as flat as running around the lake,” he said.

Gonzalez also acknowledged that the closure of part of the White Rock loop doesn’t mean the entire path is off-limits.

“We’ll still be able to run one side of the lake to get some miles in,” he said.

Balthrop Mendoza noted that the sinkhole repair construction should only create a detour here and there, and she has already scoped out what some of her potential options are.

“When we first saw the construction was coming to the south end, I saw a post on the council district’s Facebook page that showed a loop that went farther south and came up the Santa Fe Trail to catch the west side,” she said. “I’ll just figure out what those turn-by-turn paths are and will likely pivot to that for the season so that I can still loop.”

Regardless, Balthrop Mendoza acknowledged that she won’t let this particular route change or one related to birds learning to fly keep her from running at a place she has enjoyed for many years.

“I think a nice and easy detour to reroute away from the eaglets will be to take the ‘high’ path up by the Stone Tables to Dreyfuss Point,” she said. “That’s one reason I love the lake—there’s always a good route, no matter if you really want to take it or not.”

For Hart, the closed portion of the lake path will take away some of his safety, though he is willing to endure the risks to keep pursuing his goals and passions.

“Well, I’ll probably have to risk my life and ride on more sketchy routes when the White Rock loop is closed during construction,” he said. “However, this temporary disruption reminds me of the quote from Napoleon Hill: ‘Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit.’ The training must continue, but it will have to be elsewhere.”

And while this sinkhole-related closure creates inconveniences and disgruntled feelings for many individuals in the local community, and the Dallas Water Utilities, Parks and Recreation, and Transportation and Public Works departments are working to ensure efficient coordination and the safety of the public throughout this temporary process (though they did not reply to requests for comment on this matter). Balthrop Mendoza said as much as she may not always like it or want to do so, she must be able to pivot in certain situations in both her personal and professional life.

“Being willing and giving yourself grace when things need to change can actually be uplifting in and of itself,” she said. “Because you did it—the training, the work, the parenting—anyway.”

Gonzalez also noted that it’s a crucial practice to be able to adapt when faced with such unforeseen plot twists as the upcoming closure.

“As marathon runners, we’re accustomed to unexpected circumstances, such as varying weather conditions on race day,” he said. “Runners must adjust to these changes and conditions.”

Like Balthrop Mendoza and Gonzalez, Hart said he believes that it’s important for individuals to be able to be flexible and willing to adjust their schedules and plans when presented with various changes and obstacles life often presents.

“Mike Tyson once said ‘everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face,’” he said. “Well, the White Rock closure just sucker punched all Dallas runners, cyclists, and even those weird guys riding one-wheeled motorized skateboards. But we must adapt, find new routes, and continue to feed our chronic training addictions.”

DID YOU KNOW?

There are currently more than 800 episodes in 37 seasons of The Simpsons, which is the longest-running American scripted primetime television series in history.

TATTOOS ARE OFTEN MORE THAN MERE BODY DECORATIONS

Art can be expressed in a variety of ways—including in the form of permanent images and/or words on one’s body.

This weekend, Dallas Market Hall will host more than 500 booths with world-class tattoo artists at the Sinners Tattoo Expo Friday through Sunday. The event will include entertainment and competitions and will allow vendors to showcase their talents and tattoo enthusiasts and other members of the general public to meet the artists and potentially walk away with new ink or ideas of what they eventually want.

Tattoos are more common than they were in the days of yore, with nearly one-third of U.S. adults having at least one tattoo. Dallas resident Eli Rodriguez said he currently has 14 tattoos, the first of which he got was when he was 18 years old. Some of the art on his body certainly carries special meaning behind it.

“My most recent tattoos reference my Mexican heritage and my guardian angel,” he said. “I’m a first-generation Mexican American.”

Dallas-area resident Kyle Burnett’s total number of tattoos has a little more ambiguity, though he said he supposes that he technically has five. However, he now equates his amount of body art with time spent on the table, which he estimates is close to 40 hours, beginning in his teenage years.

“I was 18 years old getting what, at the time, I thought was a really badass tattoo—a tribal Godsmack sun on my waist,” he said.

Burnett, who describes himself as an introvert, said his tattoos definitely serve as forms of expression that include significant individuals and roles in his life.

“My thigh piece is a tribute to my father, who was the most influential person in my life,” he said. “My side piece is an accountability piece to myself as a father to boys.”

Dallas-area resident Katy Flynn has nine tattoos right now but has an appointment for a 10th this Friday. Her initial tattoo journey began when she was with her sister in her late 20s.

“We got matching cupcake tattoos, which we now call the family crest,” she said.

Like Burnett, Flynn said all of her tattoos carry significant meanings with them.

“Either they were done during pivotal moments of change in my life, representing a new beginning and outlook for myself, or done in memory of someone,” she said.

Flynn acknowledged that tattoos are a form of personal art and can hold different significance to different people, and the reasons people choose to get tattoos aren’t necessarily the same, either.

“Whether it’s random or, in my case, signifying a new beginning, they all have meanings behind them—whether big or small,” she said. “The way artists these days can make tattoos look so real is astounding, and a lot of it ends up being free-form and not from stencils, which is incredibly impressive when your canvas is skin.”

As tattoos have become more commonplace on individuals of all different types of personalities and walks of life, Burnett said he has noticed that people don’t seem to have nearly as many disapproving perceptions of tattoos as they did in the past.

“I think they have become a norm in society rather than a negative stigma,” he said.

It’s also not as common for individuals to make concerted efforts to conceal their tattoos in certain situations and environments. One recent survey found that most respondents (60 percent) with tattoos indicated that their body art is visible to the public most of the time. Of those with visible tattoos, 24 percent said they have purposefully covered their tattoos for job interviews, 17 percent have done so while at work, and 11 percent have hidden their tattoos while attending a work event. However, a majority (64 percent) of respondents with visible tattoos said they have never covered them.

Rodriguez noted that although many individuals used to think only “thugs” and those in lower demographics proudly displayed tattoos, he does not believe that is the case any longer.

“I have my tattoos visible in senior leadership meetings at work, and I’m not treated any differently,” he said.

Like Rodriguez, Flynn said she thinks that, in the past (and sometimes still today), tattoos were often affiliated with gangs or criminals, and individuals viewed them as dangerous or somewhat “trashy,” but she believes that it’s unwise to make up one’s mind about another person so quickly.

“Before you judge, there could be a story behind why someone chose to permanently put something on their body,” she said. “This is a decision I do not take lightly and would never take back the countless hours and dollars I have spent on putting meaningful art on my body.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Big Berkley's fans

Upcoming
Events

Monday, June 8: Mumford & Sons at Dickies Arena; Free Cult Classic Movie Monday — The Big Lebowski at Sundown at Granada
Tuesday, June 9: Madison Beer at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory; Free Rooftop Movie — Purple Rain at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, June 10: National Iced Tea Day
Thursday, June 11: Dallas Wings vs. Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center; Cool Thursdays — Emerald City at the Dallas Arboretum; Candlelight — Mozart vs. Beethoven at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas; Luke Bryan at Dickies Arena; The Prince Experience at House of Blues Dallas
Friday, June 12: Global Watch Party — USA vs. Paraguay at Klyde Warren Park; USA vs. Paraguay Soccer Game Watch Party at Happiest Hour; Sinners Tattoo Expo (goes through Sunday) at Dallas Market Hall; Charlie Puth at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Saturday, June 13: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Empower Your Future event at 9 a.m. at 4415 W. Lawther Drive; Around the World Soccer Bar Crawl in the Harwood District; Don Toliver at the American Airlines Center; James Austin Johnson at Dallas Comedy Club
Sunday, June 14: Sunday Funday Brunch at Community Beer Co.

NatNews: Issue 220

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:59:23 +0100

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June 1, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 220

YOU WON'T ALWAYS PAR THE COURSE, AND THAT'S OK

Good news: You don’t need to be a member of an exclusive country club or a protégé of Scottie Scheffler or Annika Sörenstam to take to the fairways.

According to the National Golf Foundation, a total of 48.1 million Americans ages 6 and older played golf last year—including 29.1 million individuals who played on actual golf courses and 19 million who participated exclusively in off-course golf activities (e.g., traditional and tech-enabled driving ranges, indoor golf simulators, and golf entertainment venues).

Dallas resident Kevin Roberts said he typically golfs three times each week, usually on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Although he was introduced to the game as a young kid, he became a much more avid player later in life.

“I’ve always loved sports,” he said. “I got my first clubs in the fourth grade but really didn’t start playing regularly until I was in my 40s. I didn’t start playing as much as I do now until I retired three years ago.”

For Roberts, there are several appealing reasons he keeps returning to the course week after week.

“I love the challenge,” he said. “I love seeing the ball in the air, I love being outside, and I love competing with friends.”

Dallas-area resident Becca Finke gets in approximately three rounds each month. She said she wishes that she could play more, but doing so can be challenging with a toddler and 2-month-old. The sport has been a part of her life for many years, though.

“My dad got me lessons when I was 12 years old,” she said. “I played on my high school golf team and have been playing recreationally ever since.”

Finke said what she loves most about golf is that it’s an individual sport.

“I am very competitive,” she said. “Golf is the perfect sport for competitive people because every round is a challenge against yourself. There’s always something to improve—your swing, your score, your mental game, your consistency.”

Dallas resident Chet MacArthur said he goes to the driving range roughly once a week and plays an actual round two to three times each month.

“I initially learned how to golf at the end of high school,” he said. “Some friends invited me to be a counselor at a local golf camp for kids, and I ended up learning the basics by being a counselor there. Then, in college, I hardly played and ended up picking it up a year or so after college when some friends I knew got into it.”

MacArthur said he appreciates the social opportunities being on the golf course provides.

“My favorite thing about golf is that it’s a way to spend time outdoors with friends,” he said. “It’s also a great way to meet new people.”

For many individuals, sports and exercise can serve as somewhat therapeutic experiences, offering escapes from obligations and responsibilities for brief periods of time. Spending time on the golf course can provide such peace for some people and potentially reduce stress and benefit one’s mental health.

Roberts noted that time spent on a golf course can certainly be a calming time to allow one to disconnect from chaos and decompress for a bit

“Even though golf can be extremely frustrating, it is perfect for getting your mind off of other things,” he said. “There are so many swing thoughts, so you can go four hours without thinking about that email that needs to be returned or anything else that might be bothering you.”

Like Roberts, Finke also said she thinks that playing a round can be a time when a person can step into an inviting environment free of the usual hustle and bustle and pressures one might face.

“A round of golf takes about four hours—all outdoors on a green, lush, typically beautiful course,” she said. “It is a great time to unwind, have fun, and relax with friends or even yourself. I find golf to be very peaceful, as long as you aren’t too hard on yourself if you’re not playing well.”

This is not the case for everyone, though. MacArthur said he wouldn’t necessarily describe golfing as a relaxing activity for him personally, as he is a highly competitive individual, though he acknowledged that he understands how it can be a mellow experience for many people.

“I would call it satisfying more than I would call it relaxing,” he said. “It’s only peaceful because you are in nature and with friends. I wouldn’t call the sport itself peaceful.”

And whether for stress-relief, pure enjoyment, or to fill one’s competitive spirit, Finke said golf is a sport most anyone can play, regardless of skill level, as long as one is able to keep up with the pace of play.

“There are several unwritten ‘golf etiquette’ rules that keep the game respectful and enjoyable for everyone,” she said. “Pace of play is one of those unwritten rules—it is important not to hold others up. You can hit 40 terrible shots on one hole, as long as you do it in 13 minutes.”

MacArthur also believes that there’s no skill requirement to be able to tee off, but like Finke, he acknowledged that there are certain expectations.

“The one caveat is that there is a really big jump from learning to golf and getting good enough to play at a reasonable pace on an 18-hole course,” he said. “In my opinion, the most fun thing about any sport is getting better, and as long as someone is willing to put the time into golf, they will improve.”

MacArthur also noted that some individuals might be concerned with the costs associated with playing golf, though he said there are some helpful resources available for those looking to ball on a budget.

“There are tons of used sets of clubs on Facebook Marketplace that beginners can get for very reasonable prices,” he said.

Roberts said golf has an incredibly steep learning curve and is rather time-consuming, so it isn’t necessarily for everyone. It simply depends on how much patience and potential willingness to set aside one’s pride a person is willing to have.

“I think if your time is limited and your hand-to-eye coordination is non-existent, it might be better to try something more like pickleball,” he said. “That being said, if you don’t take it too seriously and are willing to pick up the ball after a certain number of strokes and just move on to the next hole, there are definitely things about the sport most can enjoy.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Emus have two sets of eyelids—one for blinking and closing the eyes entirely and the other to keep dust and debris out.

TRADER JOE'S—SEEKING TO PROVIDE UNIQUENESS, ADVENTURE, AND COMMUNITY

What started as a small grocery store offering laid-back vibes and a tropical trading-post environment in Pasadena, California, in 1967 has become a well-known chain hoping to provide its many customers with enjoyable adventures and a true sense of community.

With more than 630 stores in more than 40 states throughout the U.S., Trader Joe’s continues to find ways to successfully gain and retain customers.

Dallas resident Alivia Brown said Trader Joe’s is the main place she shops for groceries and does so once a week.

“I think Trader Joe’s has done an excellent job branding itself as a homey, fun, and community-oriented grocery store,” she said. “The team is known to be very friendly, there are a lot of ‘Trader Joe’s exclusive items’ you cannot find anywhere else, and it is small enough not to be overwhelming.”

The store also offers plenty of options for individuals with dietary needs and restrictions. As someone with celiac disease, Brown noted that the main aspect of Trader Joe’s that keeps her returning on a regular basis is its gluten-free items.

“I like the prices and variety—they are much more affordable (gluten-free bread is $10 at most stores but only $5 at TJ’s), and there are way more options for me to choose from,” she said.

There are also individuals who are more sporadic customers of Trader Joe’s. Dallas resident Erasmo Estrada said he shops at the store occasionally, estimating he does so once or twice each month, as it’s a little farther in distance than several other grocery store options closer to his home. When he is able to make it to Trader Joe’s, though, he said he enjoys what it offers its customers.

“It simplifies the grocery experience,” he said. “The footprint of the store is smaller, there aren’t 100 different types of pastas to choose from, and it has unique snacks and options.”

And the snacks are what Estrada said appeal to him most.

“Even though they hurt my tum-tum, there are these chili and lime tortilla chips that are really good,” he said. “I also like the frozen orange chicken for a lazy dinner night.”

Like Estrada, Southern California resident Khuyen Vu doesn’t shop at Trader Joe’s as often due to the lack of location convenience. Because she doesn’t live near one, she is only able to be a customer there once or twice a year, but she said she appreciates those rare experiences.

“Trader Joe’s makes shopping easy,” she said. “The labeled aisles make it easy to find things, it’s aesthetically pleasing, and the prices are always reasonable.”

Vu said she especially enjoys going to Trader Joe’s to customize flower bouquets.

“The flowers are always fresh and beautiful,” she said. “There’s a wide selection, and my bouquets always come out gorgeous.”

Shoppers aren’t the only ones who experience positive feelings when they step inside Trader Joe’s stores—individuals who work for the grocery chain also often give off the vibe that they are genuinely happy to be there. Dallas-area resident and Trader Joe’s employee Gabriella Bennett said what she enjoys most about working at the store is the overall culture.

“I absorb so much goodness at work,” she said. “The bosses are amazing—they treat us with so much respect. It’s a really fun environment, too, and every hour, we change jobs. I might be on the register for one hour, then I might go stock the frozen section for one hour, and then I’m off to something else. It also seems to attract really happy people. Shoppers seem to always be happy and excited to be there.”

Bennett noted that she believes that Trader Joe’s is a sought-after place for many people to shop not only because of the items they can buy but also the environment they enter when they walk through the doors.

“Our products are often kind of unique, maybe even whimsical,” she said. “We offer a lot of standard staples but also some really fun things. Our ingredients are clean, and our prices are really good, too. And I have had several customers say they always feel happy when they are in the store. It’s just a happy place to be—people can feel the magic. We are the Disney World of grocery stores.”

It’s also not uncommon for Trader Joe’s products—including totes, mini totes, and insulated mini totes—to trend suddenly to the point that they sell out more quickly than expected. Bennett said she thinks that much of such occurrences are the result of social media.

“Some influencer picks up on something, and it goes viral worldwide,” she said. “We have tour buses from the airport come loaded with international travelers who have long layovers. They buy totes, seasonings, hand creams, gummy bears—anything that travels well. They buy a lot.”

Brown acknowledged that the general branding of Trader Joe’s is likely what appeals to its customers most, comparing people’s love of it to their love for Apple, Nike, or Patagonia products.

“People are proud to have the Trader Joe’s logo on things because they love what it represents,” she said. “Other grocery stores have not achieved the same reputation and don’t have as strong of a brand.”

Vu doesn’t necessarily understand or immerse herself in the crazes that many others have, though she said her sisters waited hours to ensure that they were able to become owners of the mini totes, which Vu admitted that she thinks are “pretty cute.”

“I think Trader Joe’s does a great job with marketing, they have a good following of customers, and I love their chill vibes,” she said.

For those who are not as concerned with the brand name and want to be able to purchase items that are more mainstream and not specifically from Trader Joe’s but also still want certain products exclusive at Trader Joe’s, it can be frustrating to be required to shop at multiple stores.

In addition to carrying only Trader Joe’s products, Estrada noted that another common practice of this grocery store can be found outside of its actual buildings.

“Having tiny parking lots is also their thing,” he said.

And while Bennett said she honestly isn’t sure why someone wouldn’t want to shop at Trader Joe’s, she joked about a potential solution to Estrada’s point.

“I know some people get upset if the parking is difficult, so maybe free valet parking would help,” she said.

And while Bennett is aware that some individuals might wish that they could order groceries from Trader Joe’s online and pick them up, she said Trader Joe’s will never do that, as the company values the customer experience far too much.

“We have this amazing opportunity to connect with each shopper, and we intentionally try to make their day better, however we can,” she said. “I think we really shine in that area. We get emails and phone calls all of the time about the huge impact one of our employees made in someone’s day. That’s everything. We live to make people’s day.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Like the construction behind us, we’re all works in progress

Upcoming
Events

Monday, June 1: Dallas Wings vs. Seattle Storm at College Park Center; Free Cult Classic Movie Monday — Wayne’s World at Sundown at Granada
Tuesday, June 2: National Rotisserie Chicken Day
Wednesday, June 3: Global Running Day; An Evening with Shawn Colvin at The Kessler Theater
Thursday, June 4: Cool Thursdays — Blonde Ambition (Madonna Tribute) at the Dallas Arboretum; Frisco RoughRiders vs. Springfield Cardinals at Riders Field; Candlelight 90s — Hip-Hop on Strings at Irving Arts Center
Friday, June 5: Yellowcard at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory; Le Freak at Legacy Hall; Gabby Bryan at Dallas Comedy Club
Saturday, June 6 WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; The Boho Market at Community Beer Co.; Yung Gravy at Village Beach Club; Frisco Margarita Festival at Rollertown Beerworks; Irving Taco Festival on the Plaza at Toyota Music Factory; Nate Bargatze at Dickies Arena
Sunday, June 7: Rangers vs. Guardians at Globe Life Field

NatNews: Issue 219

Mon, 25 May 2026 11:59:25 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

May 25, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 219

DON'T SAY YOU'RE TOO BUSY TO READ THIS

It’s not unusual to hear a certain word many individuals commonly use to describe themselves: busy.

Whether actually swamped with items on to-do lists or simply looking to avoid various interactions or conversations, some people use the term without thinking much about it. While it’s likely true that plenty of people are legitimately busy, sometimes the idea of being busy or actually remaining busy becomes a standard.

When individuals complete tasks, their brains release the pleasure hormone dopamine, which makes them experience positive feelings. It’s easy to become addicted to that feeling, so the pattern repeats as people continue to crave the feeling that being busy and accomplishing tasks provide them.

Dallas-area resident and licensed professional counselor Jenna Meister said she thinks that “busy” has become somewhat of a status symbol in today’s current culture, as many individuals associate being busy with being important, successful, productive, or needed.

“When someone says they are constantly working, overcommitted, or running from one thing to the next, it can almost sound like proof that they are accomplishing something meaningful,” she said. “Social media has reinforced the idea that slowing down equals laziness, while stress and exhaustion often seem to be treated like badges of honor.”

Dallas resident Braden Keefer said he believes that the word “busy” has been overused for a long time, as it makes individuals feel more significant and interesting. However, he added that he doesn’t believe that the use of the word is done so insincerely.

“I personally used to use that word often to make people think I was more interesting than I was in the moment,” he said. “Conversely, when I was actually busy, I would still say I was busy. I also think we do this to avoid sounding like we are lazy. I think there’s this false notion in America and the world over that if you are not busy or not doing anything, you are lazy. That is complete horse s***.”

Keefer added that just because a person is not occupied at the time does not mean that the individual is a slacker or non-go-getter, and he advises people not to concern themselves with opinions of others who would think such a way.

“Something a good friend‘s father told me once is that it is a privilege not to be busy and to have nothing to do,” he said. “You can only be so busy for so long before you burn out and the quality of whatever you’re doing suffers. It’s important to have a schedule filled with things that you need to do and want to do, but it shouldn’t be constantly overwhelming to the point where all you do is work or have something on your plate that’s taking up an insane amount of time.”

Sometimes, being busy can be used as an excuse to avoid dealing with personal issues or relationship problems. When a person’s mind has downtime, the individual is left with his or her own negative feelings, which can make one feel anxious or depressed. Meister noted that remaining constantly busy can certainly take a significant toll on a person mentally, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

“When people rarely slow down, the nervous system stays in a heightened state for long periods of time,” she said. “Over time, that can contribute to anxiety, irritability, emotional exhaustion, sleep problems, depression, and even physical health concerns. For example, research points to prolonged stress being one root cause of many autoimmune disorders. Emotionally, people can begin to feel disconnected from themselves and from the people they care about most. Relationships often suffer because there is little margin left for rest, reflection, or quality connection.”

Meister added that she thinks that chronic busyness can make it more challenging for people to recognize what they are truly feeling because they are always moving to the next task and that there is a deeper issue of identity that can develop in such a situation.

“If someone’s value becomes tied entirely to achievement or productivity, slowing down can create guilt or discomfort instead of peace,” she said. “Healthy rest is necessary for emotional resilience, creativity, relationships, and overall well-being.”

Chronic busyness can also lead people to forget to make time for taking care of themselves in ways that benefit their mental and emotional health, whether because one is seeking distraction from or avoidance of certain feelings or simply trying to pile too much onto his or her metaphorical plate. However, as Meister said, she thinks that many individuals are allowing themselves to pack on mental loads that are not sustainable in the long term, particularly as a result of the current world in which we live.

“Technology has also made it difficult to truly disconnect because work, responsibilities, news, and social expectations follow us everywhere,” she said.

It’s also possible that many individuals simply are not as busy as they claim to be. Keefer said he thinks that people often use the term as a cop-out to avoid certain situations or to present themselves as more important and valuable.

“It would be better if we all just said ‘hey, I don’t want to do this’ or ‘I don’t want to allocate my time here’” he said. “With that said, I also think that we, as people, tend to bite off more than we can chew to please other people or to maintain a social appearance when a lot of the tasks that are making us busy don’t really matter to us.”

While people tend to make time for the things for which they want to make time, it can be challenging to keep priorities in order. Keefer said he thinks that most people do prioritize the things they want to do and spend the most time doing those things, though he added that people often try to prioritize more than they can handle.

“This is something I am also guilty of, and I’m actively trying to improve and do better,” he said. “Unfortunately, there’s only so much we can do as one person, so it’s important for our families, relationships, passions, careers, etc. to allocate time appropriately to get the most out of our lives.”

Keefer added that it’s also important to note that just because a person doesn’t prioritize something doesn’t mean that the individual doesn’t care about it.

“It also doesn’t mean that those priorities can’t change,” he said. “It just means that at that moment, that thing might need to be shelved until you have more bandwidth.”

Despite various lofty goals and idealized lifestyles, people are simply human and can only do so much. Meister said she thinks that many people are simply trying their best, but priorities can become distorted by pressure, fear, comparison, or survival mode.

“Things like work, achievement, financial stress, and external expectations can easily take center stage, while emotional health, relationships, faith, rest, and personal growth get pushed aside,” she said.

But Meister added that she truly believes that people do not intentionally neglect what matters most to them.

“Life is just loud,” she said. “Over time, urgent things start replacing important things. I think most people value family, connection, peace, and purpose, but their daily lives do not always reflect those values because they are overwhelmed or stretched too thin.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Queen termites can live up to 30 years, though some African species can survive for up to 50 years.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS?

It’s quite possible that Mr. Rogers would have liked to see an improvement in people’s familiarity with their neighbors.

According to a Pew Research study conducted last year, approximately 26 percent of U.S. adults said they know all or most of their neighbors, while 62 percent know only some of them, and 12 percent don’t know any. Regarding how much individuals trust those who live near them, 44 percent of adults indicated that they trust all or most of the residents in their neighborhoods, while 46 percent trust some, and 9 percent trust no one living around them. (It’s OK if you are also questioning where the missing 1 percent is.)

Dallas resident Suzanne Woodling has lived in her current home for 14 years and said she knows many of her neighbors quite well, becoming acquainted with them as a result of working outside in her yard, walking her dogs, and engaging in friendly conversations in other various social situations.

“I meet a lot of people when I’m out walking, and we have a pretty active neighborhood,” she said. “We also have a really good neighborhood association that does a lot of events, so you meet a lot of people when you attend. I am on the association board, and I help plan events and go to most of them. We also have restaurants, schools, and a community garden, so people are out and about going to all of these places, so you can’t help but interact when you start to see the same people everywhere you go.”

Dallas resident Neil Smith recently moved from one condo to another and has been in his current new home for roughly two months. Despite being there only a short time, he already knows those around him rather well.

“I moved to be near some of my best friends,” he said. “Because my friends have lived in the neighborhood for several years, they have introduced me to the rest of the neighbors.”

In surrounding communities that are considered more family-friendly, couples and individuals with kids often form strong bonds with those who live near them. Dallas-area resident Ashley Farrell has lived in her current home in a local suburb for almost five years with her husband and their three children. For her, the neighborhood has created a sense of community and friendships.

“In my neighborhood, I am talkative and friendly with the people who live directly next to me or down the street,” she said. “Within my whole neighborhood, I have a group of about eight families that I am very close to—talk to daily, give each other’s kids rides, have play dates, hang out with kids and parents. The parents I am closer to have kids the same age as mine, so a lot of our daily activities overlap.”

For individuals who live in apartment complexes, it’s not incredibly uncommon to be unfamiliar with other residents and not interact with them much. Dallas resident Craig Borkenhagen has resided in his current apartment for approximately a year and a half and said he doesn’t know his neighbors well, though he has made previous efforts.

“I’ve met my across-the-hall neighbor a couple times, and we’ve exchanged numbers,” he said. “There was an incident when I didn’t feel comfortable with their cameras they’ve set up—it felt like they were watching me. But they explained they had some packages stolen (some prior history with a different neighbor), and so all is good now for me. But I don’t really talk to them much ever. And then with the next-door neighbor, I dropped off some cookies one time and got the weirdest vibe from her. I think she was drunk or high—or both—at like 11 a.m.”

Borkenhagen noted that one reason he believes that many individuals don’t know their neighbors and sometimes have no interest in getting to know them is simply a result of American culture.

“We are very individualized here,” he said. “We look out for ourselves first. And with so many people living in apartments year to year, why get to know someone who’s going to be gone next year, anyway? Or I’m the one who’s going to be gone, so why forge such short-term relationships?”

There is also the reality that people are constantly moving from one activity to the next or choosing to allocate their time in other ways (see article above).

“I think the reason people don’t get to know their neighbors is because everybody’s got such busy lives,” Woodling said, “and if you’re not out doing things like introducing yourself to your neighbors, walking your dogs, or working in your yard, you won’t meet as many. I also think it’s because Dallas has a very transient population.”

While making friends as a child or adolescent is a natural occurrence, doing so as an adult can often be more challenging for a variety of reasons, including comfort in existing social circles, life changes, the requirement to make more efforts to engage with others, etc. Farrell said she thinks a potential reason people don’t always make concerted efforts to engage with their neighbors is a result of existing relationships with friends and family members who are nearby, particularly in well-established areas.

“I think our neighborhood is unique in making friends because it’s all new builds, and with an elementary school in the neighborhood, there are age-similar families,” she said. “I also think people don’t care to make friends with their neighbors because their ‘communities’ exist in social media/online.”

Like Farrell, Smith also said he believes that technology has certainly impacted neighborly interactions, noting that the digital era has left individuals increasingly isolated.

“Your online friends can only type on a keyboard or click like,” he said. “They can’t help you change a tire, pick up a package from your front door, or keep an eye on your house.”

But Smith stressed the importance of knowing the individuals within one’s surrounding community, citing an incident that recently occurred and further ingrained his notion of establishing and building neighborly relationships.

“The first month that I lived in my new place, a neighbor had a fire in his house,” he said. “The neighbors stepped up to help him deal with the aftermath and settle into a new place.”

Farrell also said she thinks it’s important to know one’s neighbors, adding that doing so has truly positively impacted her family’s life in several ways.

“Moments are always made brighter by sharing with others,” she said. “I’m thankful I have a strong group to help with all things, like extra milk, watching my house while we’re gone, and helping with my kids.”

When a person lives in a place in which he or she doesn’t share similarities such as family dynamics and life stages, natural neighborly relationships don’t come as easily. Borkenhagen said he believes that people should at least make efforts to get to know the other individuals living near them.

“It’s what fosters community and a friendly atmosphere,” he said. “I’ve found that if I put in that little effort to get to know others, they see that and often reciprocate.”

And Mr. Rogers might have been onto something regarding being part of a sacred experience by appreciating one’s neighbor. Woodling said a key component of knowing neighbors, in addition to feeling a stronger sense of safety, is being immersed in and developing one’s own special community.

“Several studies show that part of the reason Japanese live so long is that they have a very tight-knit community,” she said, “and community has shown to increase happiness as well as life expectancy.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Another rendition of Scott’s movie night (minus Scott and minus a movie)

Upcoming
Events

Monday, May 25: Rangers vs. Astros at Globe Life Field
Tuesday, May 26: Movies in the Park — How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days at Griggs Park
Wednesday, May 27: Godsmack at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Thursday, May 28: Dallas Wings vs. Las Vegas Aces at College Park Center; Candlelight — Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas; Cool Thursdays — Fleetwood Mac Tribute at the Dallas Arboretum
Friday, May 29: Old 97s at Legacy Hall; Rangers vs. Royals at Globe Life Field
Saturday, May 30 WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Carin Leon at the American Airlines Center; Emerald City All-Stars at Legacy Hall; Choctaw Cover-to-Cover Music Festival at Klyde Warren Park; Drink North Texas Wine Festival at Frontiers of Flight Museum
Sunday, May 31: Candlelight — Queen vs. ABBA at Irving Arts Center

NatNews: Issue 218

Mon, 18 May 2026 11:59:24 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

May 18, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 218

THESE BOOTS WERE NOT MADE FOR WALKING—BUT THEY ARE STILL HELPFUL

Perhaps you’ve seen (or experienced for yourself) a person’s legs covered in bulky inflated boots that almost look like they belong on a cartoon character.

What you witnessed or took part in is simply someone trying to reap the benefits of compression therapy.

For those who are athletes or regularly engage in some form of exercise, compression boots help with more efficient recovery by reducing muscle soreness and swelling after workouts or competitions. They help improve circulation, allowing nutrients and oxygen to reach tissues more effectively, which ultimately supports expedited repair, and assist in flushing lactic acid and metabolic waste. These boots can be also used as a warm-up activity prior to exercise to help increase mobility and flexibility.

Even if you don’t take part in consistent physical activity, compression boots can serve as a helpful option. Sitting for long durations can negatively impact circulation, especially in the lower body. Individuals who consistently work at desks often experience leg heaviness, stiffness, or swelling by the end of the day as a result of reduced blood flow and extended periods of immobility. Compression boots can help counteract these effects by igniting circulation and relieving pressure in the legs, essentially reducing discomfort and improving overall leg health.

Dallas-area resident Ivan Alonzo owns his own pair of compression boots and even lets his friends borrow them from time to time. He said one of the most significant benefits of using compression boots is that doing so forces a person to sit still and relax while wearing them, though he doesn’t necessarily believe that they are the optimal option.

“The massage effect feels great,” he said. “However, the research is mixed in terms of physiological benefits of regular usage. Still, whether it’s placebo or actually helping with recovery, they feel good, and I get a chance to relax, which is ultimately a good thing.”

Regardless, Alonzo said he thinks that using compression boots can serve as an effective form of recovery, injury prevention, regular body maintenance, or a combination of all, though such use is contingent upon certain factors.

“It depends on what you are prioritizing at that time—prehab or recovery versus rehab,” he said. “Ideally, you want to set yourself up for success and injury prevention, which you could do any number of ways (e.g., eating well, prioritizing sleep, stretching and mobility, etc.).”

This particular form of body therapy can also be beneficial at various stages of life. Abri Galante, a collegiate volleyball player, said she has found compression boots to be advantageous throughout her athletic endeavors.

“I think compression boots are so great for helping with swelling and inflammation,” she said. “It’s a great recovery tool to help you with any soreness.”

And while Galante said she believes that compression boots are useful for injury prevention and consistent body maintenance, she thinks that they are most successful in aiding with recovery.

“When using them for recovery, post-training is the most beneficial,” she said. “In terms of injury prevention, the boots help with circulation, which means healthier tissue and a better chance at no injuries. With maintenance, the boots can be used as a post-everyday tool, not just for training purposes.”

Some individuals might be hesitant to use a device that tightly grips the legs and feels somewhat like it’s cutting off circulation rather than improving it, but Galante noted that using the boots typically doesn’t pose any significant dangers. She advises sitting in them after working out and not upping the pressure too quickly.

“It’s best to start on a lower setting to get a feel for them and then increase whenever you get the hang of them,” she said. “Also, 20 minutes is also plenty of time—there’s no need to go over that.”

Locally, individuals can visit Dallas’ Cryo1one, which offers 20-minute compression therapy sessions in relaxing lounge chairs. While there, one can also take advantage of Cryo1one’s several other services, including cryotherapy, contour red light therapy, IV therapy, dry salt therapy, infrared sauna, and much more.

Like Galante, Alonzo doesn’t think that there are any substantial drawbacks to incorporating the use of compression boots into one’s routine.

“Whether the benefits are 100-percent placebo or physiological, there is only a net-positive effect from regular use,” he said.

As an experienced sage, Alonzo said he would caution others not to go purchase expensive compression boots without first testing them for themselves.

“While I like the massage, others may not,” he said. “And some might feel like it’s a complete waste of time, which could be the case for those individuals. Training, recovery, and injury prevention are all so individual—whether compression boots are ‘good for you’ is no different.”

DID YOU KNOW?

The average pencil can write approximately 45,000 words (or supposedly draw a line roughly 35 miles long, a theory that has yet to be validated).

MAYBE CHANGE IT UP BY HOPPING ON THE TRAIN WITH A DREAM AND A CARDIGAN

It might be time to give a break to that pickup truck you don’t let someone else drive or that new Maserati going down a dead-end street.

Nearly 4 billion individuals use public transportation globally, particularly in urban areas, with 50 percent of people throughout Asia taking advantage of such transit options. That percentage is closer to between 10 and 20 percent in the U.S., though total transit ridership throughout the nation has seen gradual growth over recent years, especially after dipping during the pandemic.

New York is the nation’s largest urbanized area and accounts for more than 46 percent of the country’s transit trips by itself. New York City resident Katie Comerford has lived in the city for 13 years and commuted to work daily prior to the pandemic. She said she now works in a hybrid model, which reduces how often she takes the subway, though she still relies on it approximately five of the seven days each week.

“Having lived in Austin and Dallas and driving everywhere, I truly value having public transportation,” she said. “In Manhattan, it’s honestly the fastest option. We have so much traffic that a ‘quick cab ride’ can sometimes be the opposite. There may be train delays, but the subway is very reliable. I don’t have to be in charge, so I can read a book or catch up on email. In the summers, I can take the Long Island Railroad directly to a beach in an hour.”

Chicago resident Amber Lenstrom said she uses public transportation two to three times each week, though she sometimes does so every day when the weather conditions are ideal.

“I live in downtown Chicago right off a train line and have three bus lines that stop in front of my building,” she said. “I’m also a member of Divvy, which is a shared bike service with regular bikes, e-bikes, and scooters that I use almost daily as soon as it gets warm enough to do that.”

Lenstrom cited several benefits of opting for public transportation over driving, including its environmental friendliness, efficiency, and affordability ($2.50 to get anywhere in the city, $5 to get directly to the airport, and savings in not having to pay for parking or gas).

“Traffic is terrible in so many places, and I love just being able to read a book or listen to music, rather than having to navigate directions or weaving in and out of traffic lights,” she said. “I like to go out and have drinks with my friends, and I love not ever having to worry about drinking and driving—I always have a safe ride home for myself and my friends.”

Lenstrom said she also appreciates that using public transportation is never a mundane experience.

“It’s for everyone—the young, the old, and everyone in between,” she said. “I love this about a big city. In Chicago, we have executives and doctors as well as the homeless and disenfranchised taking public transport. Sometimes there are crazy psych patients on your bus, but there are always ‘normal’ people, too, and you can just kind of smirk at each other and let someone else drive you around.”

While New York City and Chicago have frequent public transit users, it’s not as common for individuals in some other big cities. In Dallas, less than 4 percent of the local population uses public transportation to commute, despite the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) system serving as an available option.

Dallas resident CJ Shelton is one of the few in that small percentage, noting that he hops on the DART one to three times each week, whether going to his workplace, to various events, or to spend time with friends, and he appreciates the convenience it provides.

“It’s cost-effective, efficient, and easily navigable,” he said. “I’m able to get work done or get on my phone or laptop when I need to, and it eliminates the wear and tear on my car and having to sit in rush-hour traffic. It’s saving me money right now with these outrageous gas prices and is cheaper than an Uber.”

A standard local DART day pass is $6, with the option to purchase a 31-day pass that reduces the daily rate. Another convenience Shelton said he is a fan of is the connectivity with his iPhone, as DART has a mobile app called GoPass®, which allows users to purchase tickets, check schedules, and access real-time transit information.

“Especially if you look it up ahead of time, you can use the app and type in where you want to go,” he said. “Even Apple Maps is good about that through the DART system—you can pick the train, and it will tell you which line to use and where to get off.”

Not everyone in the Dallas area values the DART system, as voters in Highland Park recently opted to end its services. Such a decision, however, encourages the opposite of what many individuals, including Shelton, believe should be occurring in regard to public transportation.

“I 100 percent think it should be used more,” he said. “I think some people just don’t think about it from an environmental standpoint, but the more people who use it, the better.”

Like Shelton, Comerford appreciates the availability of public transportation and said she believes that it should be used by more individuals where it’s available, particularly in metropolitan areas.

“In a city so large and crowded, I question why anyone would deal with driving in NYC,” she said. “The honking is insane sometimes. I think there are so many good things about using public transportation and cutting down on car emissions, traffic, and overcrowding streets as makeshift parking lots.”

Lenstrom added that she thinks that if more people used public transportation, it would help decongest several roads and could cut down on people’s commute times while also reducing pollution. The main downside she notices of the transit option is that the timing can sometimes be unreliable or delayed, causing people to be late to their destinations.

“I think this is the biggest reason people don’t use it,” she said. “Other cities, like in Japan, have super reliable public transportation that is always on time, efficient, etc. We are pretty far from that. I still think the benefits outweigh this, but you just have to leave earlier and allow for enough time.”

In addition to potential time-related issues, some individuals have concerns regarding safety when taking public transportation. In Dallas, DART recently strengthened its public safety measures, which include increased security officer presence. Shelton said he has never felt endangered while on the DART train, and the main improvement he would like to see is the addition of more stops.

“It’s tough to understand why more people don’t use the DART,” he said. “It goes to so many places, including the airport, and I think it does a lot of things well. You have A/C when it’s hot and heat when it’s cold, and they make sure to monitor any issues. Unhoused individuals will often use it, but I don’t care if someone wants to ride in the A/C for 20 minutes.”

Comerford said she is aware of other people’s hesitations to use certain transit options and that the New York City subway has a bit of a reputation issue outside of the locals.

“I always take visitors on the subway, but I do let them know to be aware of their surroundings,” she said. “I have never had any issues, but with any big city and so many people going on the subway every day, there will be the issues that make the news.”

Comerford added that, though she is grateful for the benefits her city’s public transportation system offers, the improvements she would like to see include an increase in sanitation maintenance of the trains and stations.

“I have seen how pristine the DC Metro is, and I wish we had that same level of cleanliness in NYC,” she said. “If the subway platforms, elevators, and trains were cleaner, I think more people would have less worry or aversion to taking the trains. But I do think the city does a good job of ensuring that there are public transportation options to support big events and venues, too, which is really nice.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff and some dear readers recently celebrated Razzle Dazzle’s birthday with camaraderie and nostalgic arcade games

Upcoming
Events

Monday, May 18: Dallas Wings vs. Washington Mystics at College Park Center; Free Cult Classic Movie — Clerks at Sundown at Granada
Tuesday, May 19: Movies in the Park — Anyone But You at Griggs Park
Wednesday, May 20: Jason Isbell at the Winspear Opera House (also on Thursday)
Thursday, May 21: The CJ Cup Byron Nelson at TPC Craig Ranch (goes through Sunday); Frisco RoughRiders vs. San Antonio Missions at Riders Field
Friday, May 22: Demi Lovato at the American Airlines Center; The Spazmatics at Legacy Hall; Joey Avery at Dallas Comedy Club (also Saturday and Sunday); American Rodeo Championship Weekend at Globe Life Field (also on Saturday)
Saturday, May 23 WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Pitbull at Dos Equis Pavilion
Sunday, May 24: Boots & BBQ Fest at Legacy Hall; MGK at Dos Equis Pavilion; Meat Fight 1K at Dallas Youth Sports

NatNews: Issue 217

Mon, 11 May 2026 11:59:24 +0100

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May 11, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 217

MASSAGE THERAPY OFFERS PHYSICAL + MENTAL HEALTH BENEFITS

It might be time to make time for a regularly scheduled massage.

Massages offer several benefits, including improved circulation, decreased muscle stiffness and joint inflammation, strengthened immune response, faster post-workout recovery, improved mood, decreased anxiety, and increased energy.

But they don’t need to be reserved solely for treat yo’ self days.

Dallas-area resident and massage therapist Liza Lott said she generally recommends a massage frequency of every two to four weeks, especially for individuals who work out on a consistent basis.

“When you’re active, massage becomes more like body maintenance—helping with recovery, tightness, and overall movement,” she said.

And as Lott pointed out, lying down on the massage table can also be quite an eye-opening experience for some individuals.

“Massages can help with muscle tension, recovery, mobility, sleep, and stress,” she said. “A lot of people don’t realize how much tension they are carrying until their bodies finally relax.”

Massages can help with conditions such as depression, digestive issues, nerve pain, headaches, scar tissue, and fibromyalgia. Recent research also indicates that massage therapy adjusts the way the body and brain communicate, resulting in several additional psychological and mental health benefits.

Those who routinely get massages may also notice improvements in their postures as a result of the loosening of tight muscles, breaking up of adhesions, and restoration of their bodies to their normal positions. Dallas-area resident Steve Bergsman said he would prefer to have a massage every two weeks but typically does so every four weeks.

“I have a desk job, and I have a bad habit of sitting in certain positions for hours on end,” he said.

For Bergsman, this monthly experience is more than simply a way to find relaxation and relief from his workday physical setup.

“In addition to getting tight areas loosened, massages are an independent assessment of areas I need to work on myself—either rolling, stretching, or strengthening,” he said.

Some individuals might be hesitant to incorporate massage therapy into their routines because of worries pertaining to pain, discomfort, or other factors involved. As Bergsman noted, though he has seen the same massage therapist for multiple years, getting a massage isn’t a lifetime commitment of any sort.

“A good therapist will work with you to understand your issues and will control the pressure appropriately,” he said. “There is nothing wrong with giving things a shot. Try it, and if you don’t like it, then you don’t have to go back.”

Bergsman acknowledged that massages aren’t for everyone, but there are certainly other options for those seeking relief for muscle tension or pain.

“An alternative is to go to someone who does dry needling, which is also something I’ve had great success with in the past,” he said.

There are a variety of massage options, including Swedish, hot stone, deep tissue, aromatherapy, sports, reflexology, Thai, and several others. Different individuals have separate goals and preferences regarding their massages, so what works for one person might not be the most suitable choice for someone else.

“There’s not one type that’s best for everyone,” Lott said. “The best massage is one that’s customized to what that person’s body needs at the time—whether that’s relaxation, recovery, or tension relief.”

For those concerned about massages being painful, it’s important to communicate with the massage therapist if changes need to be made to the amount of pressure or if one is experiencing too much discomfort.

“It doesn’t have to hurt to be effective,” Lott said. “The session can always be adjusted to your comfort level so that you can relax and still get the benefits.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Built in 1908, Holler House (located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin) is the oldest sanctioned 10-pin bowling alley still operating in the U.S.

WHAT KIND OF TRAVELER ARE YOU?

Not everyone is like Dorothy Gale and willing to settle for the notion that the heart’s desire can simply be found in one’s own backyard.

According to UN Tourism, approximately 1.52 billion international tourists were recorded around the world in 2025, with Europe serving as the world’s most sought-after destination region, recording 793 million international tourists last year.

Different individuals like to travel in different styles, whether contingent upon personalities, situations, travel purposes, or other contributing factors.

When Dallas-area resident Alexis Derrow visits a new place, she prefers to plan out her trip and have an itinerary to follow.

“I’m a sight-seer, and some sights can’t be seen on certain days,” she said. “I like to have my game plan. I also plan ‘rest.’ I usually only plan two big things plus one rest per day. If I need a whole rest day, I’ll rework the itinerary.”

Derrow said she enjoys taking part in touristy activities in places she hasn’t previously been, though she will occasionally add in some unknown adventures.

“If I’m single, I’ll hop on Bumble and get a local to take me for a drink,” she said.

Derrow added that she does have three specific tasks for each new place she visits.

“I go to McDonald’s—international McDonald’s is wild,” she said. “I take public transportation—this is where you see locals. And I go to mass. I’ve done English-language mass with a bunch of Chinese people in France. It was wild.”

Not all travelers like to know what is in store for them when they visit different parts of the world, though. Unlike Derrow, Dallas resident Carolyn Fan said she prefers to have no schedule or itinerary when she ventures to another city, state, or country.

“The best adventures are usually spontaneous for me,” she said. “I usually have one or two things that I would love to see when I’m there and maybe a couple of other things that would be cool, but it’s not the end of the world if I don’t get to see everything.”

Fan said her favorite aspect of travel is the opportunity to meet new people and experience different cultures, and being on a rigid schedule could create unwanted obstacles.

“I feel like if I am open to try new things without an itinerary, I’ll be able to experience more of that,” she said. “I love talking to strangers and learning more about the way of life in a certain place. Usually the tourist stuff does not interest me as much as really getting to know a place.”

And Fan said the best location for her to do so might not be the first one that other people would think.

“This may be very strange, but my favorite place to go in a new city is a supermarket—just to see what people eat and whatever everyday life is like for them,” she said. “I also love going to a park or a bakery in that city and trying local cuisine and seeing how people interact in daily life.”

Fan added that she does enjoy seeing one or two famous aspects of an area, but she does not think it’s necessary to go to every single museum or landmark. She simply wants to be out and about and explore a place that is relatively unknown to her.

“I think the best way to travel is to spend the least amount of time in the hotel or hostel where you’re staying,” she said. “Honestly, the absolute best way to travel is to stay with someone who lives there and hang out with them and their friends.”

Fan said her favorite trips have been the ones she’s taken by herself, noting that solo travel forces her to make friends with new individuals and talk to people she doesn’t know.

“It’s great because then you learn so much more about a place than originally planned,” she said. “I traveled to Columbia by myself and had an absolutely amazing time meeting new people and experiencing a new culture. The friendships I made during my time in Columbia resulted in me being able to go visit my friends and other countries. I also was able to live in Europe for a year, which was quite memorable, being able to experience everyday life in Germany while befriending a lot of people.”

For Derrow, she said her most cherished trip was one she took to London during high school with her parents.

“My mom is a super planner, and we did everything,” she said. “We got to see the Magna Carta. Bath was cool—just Roman Baths in England.”

Derrow said other notable trips were those she experienced with her parents by her side, including in her adult years.

“It was similar for Hawaii—my mom just planned a ton of stuff,” she said. “And New York a few years ago. I got to check off almost all of my things on my New York bucket list. I still don’t have the top of the Empire State Building. Sigh.”

Though Derrow might still be working on ensuring that she sees and experiences all she hopes, she said there are certainly plenty of benefits added to her life from the exploring she has already been able to do in areas outside of those most familiar to her.

“I think it helps to see what’s good and bad about the world and appreciate what you have back at home,” she said. “I enjoy seeing things that are really old and getting a sense of the genius of man—how sophisticated these building techniques were, done without computers or electricity.”

Derrow added that it is especially beneficial for Americans to venture to other parts of the world and experience sites and surroundings to which they are not accustomed while also sharing their own culture with others.

“You’re able to see really beautiful things in a way you can’t see in the U.S. because they don’t exist—it’s too modern,” she said. “It helps with understanding how young America is and explaining to Europeans how big it is. You’re doing a little cultural exchange. You think being an American is not that interesting, but people are really curious.”

Similarly, Fan noted that the perks of traveling and experiencing new places include learning about how people live different lifestyles in different parts of the world, which can help a person be more open-minded.

“Studies have shown that as you age, time seems to go by faster because people get in the monotony of doing habitual activities,” she said, “but being in a different environment while traveling really slows time down and keeps the lasting memory that is not just the mundane everyday life.”

Fan said journeying to other areas also allows individuals to become more aware of truths and falsities they have heard about certain places or cultures.

“It makes you more open to the world,” she said. “I tend to wonder what life is like if you were born in that country, instead. I do think if people traveled more, it would help make them more open to other cultures and more accepting of others.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

The NatNews photography staff failed this week, but thankfully, Rocky Keith (and her mom, Lucy) showed up as the real MVP

Upcoming
Events

Monday, May 11: Free Cult Classic Movie Monday — Pulp Fiction at Sundown at Granada
Tuesday, May 12: Rangers vs. Diamondbacks at Globe Life Field; Movies in the Park — Pretty in Pink at Griggs Park
Wednesday, May 13: FC Dallas vs. Vancouver Whitecaps FC at Toyota Stadium; Free Rooftop Movie — Poetic Justice at Sundown at Granada
Thursday, May 14: Dallas Wings vs. Minnesota Lynx at College Park Center; Eric Nadel Birthday Benefit featuring Sammy Rae & The Friends at Longhorn Ballroom; Candlelight — ‘90s Hip-Hop on Strings at the Irving Arts Center
Friday, May 15: Wildflower Arts & Music Festival at Galatyn Park Urban Center (goes through Sunday); Dallas Silent Disco at Klyde Warren Park; Willie Macc at Dallas Comedy Club
Saturday, May 16 WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Fiesta de Mayo Half Marathon at Toyota Music Factory; Diljit Dosanjh at the American Airlines Center; Battle of the Boy Bands Dance Party at Legacy Hall; Dallas Trinity FC vs. Fort Lauderdale United FC at Cotton Bowl Stadium
Sunday, May 17: Lyfe Jennings at House of Blues Dallas; Gary Gulman at The Kessler Theater

NatNews: Issue 216

Mon, 04 May 2026 11:59:25 +0100

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May 4, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 216

STAIR CLIMBING DOESN'T HAVE TO FEEL LIKE A DEATH MARCH

It might be a wise idea for those who are physically able to skip those short elevator rides and take the stairs, instead.

A study conducted in 2023 discovered that stair climbing on a regular basis improves aerobic capacity and can also improve cardio-metabolic risk indicators, including body composition, blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and insulin sensitivity.

One common way to do so, especially for those who don’t have access to stairs or simply don’t want to walk up and down stairs potentially located in isolated closed-door stairways in buildings, is to use a stair-climbing machine (the StairMaster is a well-known brand). Dallas-area resident Maddy Pond said she works out on the StairMaster one to two times each week following her strength workouts.

“It is a great way to get your heart rate up without the impact on your body that happens during running,” she said.

As Pond noted, compared to other high-intensity cardio exercises (particularly running), stair climbing puts less stress on a person’s ankles, knees, and hips. Additionally, building strength in muscles around those lower-body joints can boost their overall health and function.

Combined with the cardio workout aspect, the muscle strengthening component is a key reason Dallas-area resident Jeremy Crum adds approximately 10 minutes at a moderate speed on the StairMaster twice each week after running on the treadmill.

“I switch from whole-foot steps to half-foot, leaving my heel off the step to target different areas that I don’t normally get to work out,” he said. “I think full-foot is the proper technique, though.”

Dallas-area resident David Recker recently decided that he would like to incorporate using a stair-climbing machine into his workout routine on a regular basis, as he said he has always found it interesting that he can run a marathon but becomes winded walking up three flights of stairs. Like Pond and Crum, Recker believes that stair climbing is an effective way to take part in low-impact movement to supplement running while also working different biomechanics.

“I don’t know much about the efficacy of the StairMaster specifically, but I have read that walking on a treadmill on an incline is more beneficial than walking flat, so I imagine a StairMaster has the same effect,” he said. “Also Ali Larter’s character in Landman said it’s an extremely effective glute workout, so it’s got to be true.”

Despite his inspiration from Angela Norris, Recker acknowledged that he doesn’t have immediate access to a stair-climbing machine at his current apartment complex’s gym, so he will be required to become a member of a gym to do so. He (jokingly) said he also has additional factors to consider, though.

“I’m also vaguely concerned about tripping, so I may need a safety net,” he said.

Another challenge for some individuals presents itself in the form of the mental battle of climbing endlessly without actually physically going anywhere, which can alter a person’s perception of time and the existence of positive thoughts. But Pond has found a solution that works for her in such a situation.

“The worst part is that one minute feels like one hour, so I always have to watch a show to keep me focused,” she said.

For Crum, the difficulty of walking up revolving steps comes when he shows slight disrespect to the machine by starting his workout off too fast without pacing himself, much like some people do when starting off running.

“The StairMaster seems simple and easy for the first couple of minutes,” he said, “but if you start off too aggressively, it will catch up to you quickly and will wear you out more quickly, which can turn you off of it.”

But Crum said he has learned the importance of taking it easy at the beginning and trusting the process.

“I promise you will feel it later, even if you think it was too easy,” he said.

Crum likens workouts on a stair-climbing machine to those on a rowing machine, as they both allow for combination exercises or sorts.

“You can achieve the same benefits with different machines or weights, but the StairMaster kills multiple birds with one stone,” he said. “By adding it into my routine a couple times a week after my run, it keeps those (running) muscles moving at a slower pace but also working many other muscles at the same time. It’s almost like a productive cooldown, if that’s a thing.”

While stair-climbing workouts may not be suitable to everyone, they are certainly viable options for hardcore athletes and weekend warriors alike who are seeking cross-training that will give their joints a little reprieve.

“I’m a big fan of the idea that movement is movement, and people should identify what movement works best for their bodies and their preferences,” Recker said. “If the StairMaster is as effective as people say, I think it’s a great option for low-impact movement.”

DID YOU KNOW?

M&M’s candies were created in 1941 as rations for American soldiers in World War II and weren’t made available to the public until 1947.

CEREAL IS STILL HERE TO FILL YOUR BOWL AND HEART WITH JOY

Current adults may recall sitting down and enjoying various cereals and maybe even drinking up the remaining milk in the bowl after (Cinnamon Toast Crunch milk, anyone?) when they were kids and perhaps even into their college years and early 20s.

While cereal boxes still fill shelves on grocery store aisles, they may not be as common in pantries as they once were for some individuals and families.

Dallas-area resident Nikki East said she hardly eats cereal anymore (maybe a few times a year, if that), which is quite a change from previous eras in her life.

“As a kid, I ate cereal often because it was quick and cheap—I didn’t grow up with money,” she said. “In my 20s, I still ate it sometimes, probably for the same reason I did as a kid. I think that as I’ve aged, my palette has changed, and I can, thankfully, afford healthier options for breakfast.”

However, East said she does understand why some people in different circumstances consume cereal more often.

“If cereal is all that one can afford or is what someone enjoys, then of course it’s a sufficient option,” she said. “It’s still food, albeit not ‘real’ food in most cases. If there are other options that are affordable and tasty, then that’s sufficient, as well.”

And those other options are often what replace cereal, as changes in life, society, generational perspectives, and a slew of other contributing components impact people’s preferences and habits. There are certainly still individuals who still keep cereal in their lives and homes, though. Dallas-area resident Donovan Lewis, who can likely be considered a cereal connoisseur, said he eats cereal a couple of times a month now, generally on the weekend when he is able to sit down and enjoy doing so.

“I’m usually running a bit late during the week and, unfortunately, can’t eat it while driving,” he said.

Though cereal is generally considered a breakfast food, the limit does not exist on when it can be consumed during the day. Those who pinched pennies throughout college or individuals who simply don’t enjoy or aren’t quite skilled in cooking have likely poured a few bowls for another meal or snack. After all, as Lewis pointed out, it’s sufficient for more than one reason.

“It’s filling and delicious—those are two of my main requirements for a meal,” he said. “If you run out of ideas for lunch or dinner, cereal is a quick and easy option.”

When Lewis is able to take time to enjoy a bowl of what, for some individuals, may be filled with nostalgia, he said he prefers Honey-Comb. His other go-to favorites include Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, and Frosted Flakes.

“Honeycomb has that combination of sweetness and crunch that I love,” he said. “Plus, if I squint, I can talk myself into it being a somewhat healthy option. And the holes in Honeycomb feel like they capture the milk perfectly, so every bite is a great combo of milk and cereal.”

Cold cereal hasn’t left the lives and hearts of the younger little humans, either. Dallas-area resident Norah Hone, who is almost 5 years old, said she eats cereal every once in a while and, like Lewis, thinks it is a sufficient option for breakfast or any other meal or snack.

“It’s healthy because it has milk in it,” Hone said. “My favorite kind is roundball cereal [Reese’s Puffs] because it tastes like chocolate and chocolate milk.”

While cold cereal has been a longtime breakfast staple after it initially appeared in 1863, thanks to Dr. James Caleb Jackson’s introduction of Granula, it often takes a backseat to what people consider healthier and/or more convenient options (e.g., breakfast burritos and tacos, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt and parfaits, bagels, avocado toast, eggs, etc.).

After a brief surge when people were home much more and often had more time for various tasks and meals during the pandemic, cereal sales have declined over the years, including a 13-percent drop since 2021. Lewis said he thinks that one reason, among others, individuals may not eat cereal as often as in the past is simply because they don’t have time to sit down and enjoy this form of breakfast anymore.

“You can’t eat it on the go, and people rush to get to school or work and just pick quicker options,” he said. “Plus, I do believe there are concerns about some of the sugary cereals not being a healthy option.”

Hope is certainly not lost for cereal, though. In fact, there is an establishment in Dallas that embraces cereal in a way customers won’t find at typical dining spots. The Spelled Milk, located in the Bishop Arts District, opened in 2023 and offers mix-and-match cereal bowls paired with other treats, beloved well-known cereals (e.g., Frosted Flakes, Cocoa Puffs, Rice Krispies, and many more), and cereals imported from countries around the world (including Mexico, Germany, Portugal, India, Australia, and New Zealand). This popular cereal bar has more than 100 cereals, more than 10 milks, and more than 30 toppings—all of which can be topped with homemade ice cream—and provides options for those with special dietary needs (dairy-free, gluten-free, keto-friendly).

The Spelled Milk is seeking to expand with a new location in the McKinney-Allen area later this year. Hone said she hopes to be able to visit soon, and she already has an idea of what she hopes to put in her bowl.

“I would want chocolate milk cereal because I love it,” she said.

Lewis said he wasn’t aware of The Spelled Milk until a couple of weeks ago, but it might not be surprising to see him there sometime soon—especially when he finds out that all of his aforementioned favorite cereals are on the menu.

“I would love to visit since I have a love for cereal,” he said. “I just know it’ll be a fun time.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff and some dear readers support Taco Joint and David Hasselhoff

Upcoming
Events

Monday, May 4: Free Cult Classic Movie Monday — Spinal Tap at Sundown at Granada
Tuesday, May 5: Movies in the Park — What a Girl Wants at Griggs Park
Wednesday, May 6: Free Rooftop Movie — Bridesmaids at Sundown at Granada
Thursday, May 7: Paul Schalda at Legacy Hall
Friday, May 8: Frisco RoughRiders vs. Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Riders Field; Voices in Blue at Lovers Lane United Methodist Church; Alec Flynn at the Dallas Comedy Club
Saturday, May 9 WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Run for the Rita 5K at Kaleidoscope Park; Romeo Santos and Prince Royce at the American Airlines Center; FC Dallas vs. Real Salt Lake at Toyota Stadium; Dave Matthews Band at Dos Equis Pavilion
Sunday, May 10: Brunch at the Museum at the Dallas Museum of Art; Mother’s Day brunches throughout the Dallas area; Rangers vs. Cubs at Globe Life Field; Candlelight — Tribute to Taylor Swift at the Joule

NatNews: Issue 215

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 11:59:25 +0100

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April 27, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 215

WHERE DO YOU GET YOUR ENERGY (AND IS THAT A GOOD IDEA)?

Sometimes life can feel exhausting.

Though there isn’t a fix-all button to make it all better, there are ways one can feel more energized and ready to take on whatever comes his or her way.

Dallas resident and kinesiologist Kevin Kuhn, who brings expertise in biochemistry and sports nutrition, said chronic low energy is rarely the result of one contributing factor. Instead, it is almost always a combination of several physiological and lifestyle aspects, one of which is mitochondrial underperformance.

“Your cells produce ATP (your actual energy currency) inside the mitochondria,” he said. “Sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and chronic stress all impair mitochondrial density and efficiency. Less mitochondrial capacity means less cellular energy production.”

Kuhn noted that additional common reasons people feel like they are lacking energy include blood sugar dysregulation, sleep inefficiency and poor sleep quality, dehydration, micronutrient deficiencies, and poor gut health. Another key contributing factor to feeling depleted of energy is a sedentary lifestyle.

“Physical inactivity actually causes fatigue,” Kuhn said. “Aerobic fitness is directly tied to how efficiently your body delivers and utilizes oxygen. An untrained cardiovascular system makes every physical task metabolically more costly.”

Many individuals opt for consuming caffeine, often through coffee and/or energy drinks, though Kuhn said caffeine in such forms doesn’t actually create energy but, rather, masks fatigue signals.

“It prevents adenosine from binding to its receptors in the brain, so you feel less tired, but the adenosine still accumulates,” he said. “When caffeine clears, the fatigue hits back, often harder.”

Kuhn added that moderate, strategic coffee consumption (one or two cups at least 90 to 120 minutes after waking up) can support performance without significant downside. And while coffee contains antioxidants and has legitimate cardiovascular and metabolic benefits in moderate amounts, it can certainly still have negative impacts.

“The problem with coffee for regular energy use is that tolerance develops quickly, requiring more for the same effect,” Kuhn said. “Late consumption impairs sleep quality, and it’s a diuretic that can worsen dehydration.”

Many energy drinks, Kuhn pointed out, combine significant amounts of caffeine with large doses of sugar (or artificial sweeteners), B vitamins (often in poorly bioavailable forms), and stimulants like taurine and guarana, and regular use is associated with elevated blood pressure, disrupted sleep, increased anxiety, and cardiovascular stress.

“The bottom line is that neither coffee nor energy drinks address why someone is fatigued,” Kuhn said. “They suppress the signal without fixing the system.”

In order for individuals to practice healthier habits of selecting better options when they feel like they need more energy and pep throughout the day, Kuhn said to think of doing so as an energy-producing infrastructure rather than looking for a switch to flip.

“To start, I’d recommend pairing complex carbohydrates with protein and healthy fat at every meal,” he said. “This stabilizes blood glucose and sustains energy over three to four hours rather than 90 minutes. Prioritizing whole food carbohydrates like oats, sweet potatoes, rice, fruit, and legumes is important because they provide sustained glucose without the spike-crash of refined carbs.”

Kuhn said the next step is to track one’s protein intake to see if he or she is getting a sufficient amount of amino acids and adequate protein to support the synthesis of neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine, all of which contribute to an optimally functioning nervous system.

“Increasing dietary protein can also help prevent muscle protein breakdown that contributes to fatigue,” he said. “Adding more omega-3 fatty acids into your diet can also support energy production—they’re anti-inflammatory, support mitochondrial membrane function, and promote cellular energy efficiency. Iron-rich foods like lean red meat, spinach, and lentils (combined with Vitamin C for improved absorption) help support the blood’s ability to carry and transfer oxygen to working tissue so that adequate energy (ATP) can be produced.”

And there is also a common form of liquid that can do wonders one might not always expect.

“Water is the simplest and most overlooked energy lever,” Kuhn said. “Aim for light-yellow urine throughout the day. Electrolytes (sodium, potassium, magnesium) matter, too, especially for active individuals or those who sweat a lot.”

And while people might think that activity can lead to exhaustion, the opposite can often be true. Kuhn said one of the most counterintuitive but well-established findings in exercise physiology is that, when dosed appropriately, exercise creates energy rather than depletes it.

“Low- to moderate-intensity aerobic exercise is the single most powerful intervention for chronic fatigue,” he said. “Consistent Zone 2 training (conversational pace at about 60–70-percent max heart rate) drives mitochondrial biogenesis, growing more mitochondria and improving their efficiency. More mitochondria means more ATP production capacity at rest and during activity. Regular aerobic base training is why trained athletes feel more energetic from day to day—their energy systems are simply more developed. Even 20–30 minutes of brisk walking daily produces measurable improvements in energy and mood within two to three weeks.”

Kuhn also suggested activities such as resistance training, yoga and mobility work, brief high-intensity intervals, and light morning movement upon waking to help spark energy and vitality.

“The key caveat is that exercise frequency, intensity, and volume must be matched to recovery capacity,” he said. “More exercise is not always better. Overtraining is a real cause of persistent fatigue, especially in athletes who aren’t sleeping or fueling adequately. Progressive overload with adequate rest is the model.”

Kuhn added that other ways people can improve their energy efficiency is first to consult their physicians about getting blood work done to rule out or address physiological root causes. After doing so, they can audit their sleep, which he noted is the most undervalued performance variable in existence, as no supplement, nutrition protocol, or training program compensates for chronic sleep debt. Additionally, they should periodize their stress loads, not just their training, as mental and emotional stress draws from the same physiological reserves as physical training.

It’s also necessary for individuals to eat enough—relative energy deficiency in sport (RED-S) is increasingly recognized as a major driver of fatigue, injury, poor performance, hormonal disruption, and bone stress injuries in both male and female athletes—and to prioritize quality rest. Kuhn added that it’s important to address the mind-body connection, as anxiety, depression, and chronic stress are physical conditions with measurable physiological effects deeply intertwined with physical energy.

Ultimately, Kuhn said that it’s essential for individuals to build habits, not shortcuts.

“The energy problem is almost never solved by finding the right supplement or biohack,” he said. “It’s solved by consistently sleeping enough, eating real food in appropriate amounts, training with intelligence, managing stress, and staying hydrated. The fundamentals are unglamorous, but they work in ways that no shortcut can replicate over the long term.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven began losing his hearing in his 20s and was almost completely deaf by age 45, though he continued composing until his death at 56.

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK—THE WEST END HAS BEEN HERE FOR YEARS

While it might seem like a ghost town at times, Dallas is not giving up on the West End.

Officially established as the Dallas West End Historic District in the 1970s, this once sought-after area has declined over the years after experiencing a boom in the 1980s, with hot spots such as the Starck Club, Planet Hollywood, and Cinema 10.

And many local millennials and GenXers will never forget the iconic Spaghetti Warehouse, which closed its doors for good in October 2019 after providing smiles, fullness, and memories to families and individuals since this original location opened in 1972.

Though not what it once was, the West End still stands, seeking resurgence in a variety of ways. Dallas restaurateur Jay Khan—owner of West End Dining Group, which includes RJ Mexican Cuisine, 3Eleven Kitchen & Cocktails, The Liam’s Steakhouse, Chet’s Dallas, Moak’s Family Texas BBQ, and Mas Street Tacos—said from his perspective, the West End is one of the most complete and strategically located districts in Dallas, as it connects to so many other different integral areas of the city.

“You’re surrounded by some of Dallas’ most important landmarks—the Sixth Floor Museum, JFK Memorial, Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, Perot Museum of Nature and Science, Dallas Museum of Art, and the Dallas World Aquarium,” he said. “You’re minutes from Victory Park and the American Airlines Center and right next to major hotels, shopping, apartments, offices, colleges, and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center. You also have close access to the Dallas Market Center (World Trade Market), making it a hub for business travelers and events.”

Khan added that an additional component of the West End that makes it even stronger is accessibility, including DART rail stations, quick transportation routes, and plenty of parking lots, all of which allow individuals the opportunity to come enjoy the area.

“Then you add things like horse carriage rides, historic streets, shopping, dining, and the deep-rooted history connected to Jack Ruby and the JFK story, and it becomes more than a district—it becomes an experience,” he said. “You can spend an entire day and night here without ever needing to leave.”

Those who have been in Dallas since the ‘80s or ‘90s likely have positive tales they can tell about their experiences in the West End. Dallas resident Virginia Altick, who grew up in Dallas and has lived here throughout her adult life, said she can recall enjoyable memories in this district from many moons ago.

“As a kid, I loved visiting City Golf, the mini-golf experience (or putt-putt, as we called it), and the arcades inside the West End’s main building,” she said. “This seemed like a far-away outing for me coming from the bubble (Park Cities). I remember being in awe of the multi-floor building because they had interesting candy, like fudge, on the first floor. Many of my friends held birthday or end-of-year parties there.”

Altick said as a young adult, she remembers going with some of her friends to Club Blue, which was the largest DJ club she had ever been to.

“Looking back, I think these were the early days of house music, or at least it was my first foray into the genre,” she said. “There was also an underground after-party with no alcohol where we would sometimes keep the party going. Separately, I also fondly remember a few restaurants, like The Palm, a Cajun-themed place, and a parade all being draws to the area.”

But the attraction of a city’s popular area doesn’t always last forever.

“Similar to Taylor Swift, all things go through ‘eras,’” Altick said. “Deep Ellum and Greenville Avenue certainly have. Even Uptown has. The West End is no exception. It is hard to sustain vibrance forever and always. I personally don’t venture there, due to living on the east side of Dallas.”

While the West End may not appeal to the masses as it once did, it certainly isn’t completely dead. Khan said he believes this area of Dallas is still one of the most historically important, as it is where much of the city’s early commercial growth began. He also noted that its ties to one of the most significant moments in American history, the assassination of JFK, brings it global attention.

“This district represents the foundation of Dallas,” he said. “If we don’t protect it and keep it active, we lose part of the city’s identity. For me, it’s not just about preserving history—it’s about keeping it alive, relevant, and part of everyday life.”

Khan said his enjoyment of the West End is about more than operating restaurants. Rather, he sees himself as building an ecosystem that allows patrons to enjoy quick lunches, happy hours, dinner, catering, festivities in private rooms, and full-scale events—all within walking distance.

“When you combine that with surrounding experiences, you create a full destination,” he said.

Khan added that what he delights in most is seeing people come in and not simply visit one place but, rather, explore, move, and experience the entire West End.

“That flow creates energy, and that energy is what brings the district to life,” he said. “At the end of the day, it’s about impact—creating jobs, building strong teams, and helping transform the West End into one of the most exciting, connected, and complete destinations in Dallas.”

It’s possible that the West End will eventually find its way into the hearts of those who don’t know it well. Altick surmises that declines in areas of cities and the obsoletion of certain businesses and attractions are often the result of each generation bringing its own needs and desires to the entertainment landscape, and tastes for experiences change as people become more health-conscious.

Altick added that although she remembers the West End fondly, she can’t recall the last time she was there, though she would be more likely to visit again if it changed drastically like several other nostalgic areas have.

“I would accept it as I accept the others—c’est la vie,” she said. “If people like and want to revive an area, then more power to them. I like an area that is walkable, so if they maintain the walkability I remember or expand upon it, then I’m all for it.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

New album cover (again) with maybe one band member switched out for another

Upcoming
Events

Monday, April 27: Rangers vs. Yankees at Globe Life Field
Tuesday, April 28: Stars vs. Wild (Game 5) at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — Scream 2 at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, April 29: Bethel Music at House of Blues Dallas; Shannon Fielder at Dallas Comedy Club
Thursday, April 30: Yächtley Crëw — The World’s #1 Yacht Rock Band at Legacy Hall; Candlelight — Queen vs. ABBA and Candlelight — Tribute to Bad Bunny at the Irving Arts Center
Friday, May 1: Dallas Trinity FC vs. DC Powoler FC Watch Party at White Rock Brewing Co.
Saturday, May 2: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Stars vs. Wild (Game 7) (if necessary) at the American Airlines Center; Cinco de Mayo Celebration with Havana NRG at Legacy Hall; Kid Cudi at Dos Equis Pavilion
Sunday, May 3: Maren Morris at the Majestic Theatre; Free First Sundays — Access for All at the Dallas Museum of Art

NatNews: Issue 214

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 11:59:28 +0100

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April 20, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 214

DISCONNECTING OFTEN ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO RECONNECT

While some individuals might fear that disconnecting from their phones and social media could cause them to lose connection with the world in a sense, it’s possible that disconnecting every once in a while can actually help people reconnect with the world around them.

Recent statistics reveal that globally, people average 4 hours and 47 minutes of screen time per day. The average American spends 6 hours and 12 minutes looking at a screen each day, and across all age groups in the U.S., 43 percent view their phones right before bed, and 44 percent do so first thing in the morning

One study conducted by university professors/scholarly researchers and published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) Nexus found that even a two-week period of limiting what one can do on his or her phone by removing internet access resulted in improved mental health, subjective well-being, and objectively measured ability to sustain attention, as 91 percent of participants in the research improved on at least one of these outcomes.

A Baylor University study revealed that “connecting” on social media can actually lead to increased feelings of disconnection and isolation, as it often displaces more meaningful social interactions and is unable to meet an individual’s innate need to foster and maintain relationships.

“Despite the premise that social media helps us feel more connected to other people, there is more and more research actually showing that the people who spend more time online report higher levels of loneliness and dissatisfaction,” Dallas resident and psychologist Kenleigh McMinn said. “This is likely due to the fact that social media usually only shows either the ‘highlights’ of what is going on in other people’s lives (without showing the bad stuff) or exposes us to bad news happening across the world.”

Being constantly connected and exposed to such a significant amount of content can take its toll on a person’s mental health, relationships, and productivity, which can lead to further disconnection from important components of one’s reality.

“It is definitely healthy and encouraged to take breaks from social media and screen time/scrolling, in general, to help reconnect with ‘real life,’” McMinn said.

Dallas-area resident and University of Texas at Austin student Mithra Cama said she believes that it is extremely important for a person to disconnect from his or her phone and social media on a regular basis for improved well-being.

“Social media exposes us to an overwhelming amount of information within minutes, and I don’t think anyone’s mental health is built to process so many different things at once, especially with the type of news we have today,” she said. “Most people I know, myself included, spend every second of free time on their phones and hear about it immediately every time something terrible happens in the world.”

And though Cama doesn’t think that means a person should steer completely away from everyday devices, she does acknowledge that it’s healthy not to become consumed by them and the influx of all they provide.

“While it’s important to stay informed, I think it’s really important to disconnect from the constant stream of negative information that contributes to our anxiety, depression, and fear for the future,” she said.

Cama said, in general, she doesn’t believe that people take enough moments throughout the day to escape from the noise and busyness surrounding them.

“I don’t think anyone I know has intentional quiet time, and most people I know spend hours on social media every day,” she said. “I even set an hour time limit on my Instagram, and I use it up to the limit almost every day.”

Cama added that she thinks that people’s heavy reliance on technology makes it difficult for them to disconnect completely, especially when they have their phones on them or near them at almost all times.

“I wake up from the alarm on my phone and immediately check my notifications,” she said. “While working on my laptop, I get emails and news updates throughout the day, and my phone is constantly buzzing with social media notifications. We are expected to be online all of the time, and it feels impossible to separate ourselves from that.”

Like Cama, McMinn said she also does not think that people prioritize quiet time enough.

“It’s so easy to get caught up in scrolling or screens because it activates the reward system of our brains that goes off for instant gratification,” she said. “Unfortunately, too much of this can leave us feeling depleted and makes it harder to appreciate day-to-day satisfaction and slower hobbies.”

McMinn also pointed out that it took a pandemic more than six years ago to force people to slow down a bit and take on new activities, which potentially demonstrates more about people’s intrinsic desires than one might expect.

“Think about early in COVID when we were in lockdown—what kinds of things did people start doing more of?” she reminded. “Hobbies like gardening, baking, walking, and crafting really took off, even when we had all of the time in the world to sit in front of screens and do nothing. I think that says a lot about how our brains are wired and what we are actually meant to be spending our time doing.”

While the idea of escaping from the screens and all they present can seem appealing, actually doing so can be challenging for people at times. Cama admitted that she does not disconnect as often as she should and that she is almost always “plugged in.”

“I think one of the few times I have free time and choose not to spend it on my phone or doing work is when I clean my room,” she said. “I don’t clean my room very often, so when I do, there’s a lot to do, and it feels very therapeutic. I like to declutter and give my mind time to do its thing. I like disconnecting this way because I feel better about using my time productively, and it helps stop me from getting stuck in negative thought spirals in my bed.”

And sometimes simply being in nature or spending time with others can make a positive difference in a person’s life.

“Sitting outside reading a book or going for a walk with a friend are ways to reconnect with what’s important to me and help me feel more grounded,” McMinn said. “There’s some valid science behind the phrase of ‘touch grass.’”

DID YOU KNOW?

More than one-third of all potatoes grown in the U.S. are manufactured into frozen products, 85 percent of which are french fries.

ARE YOU DOWN BAD CRYING AT THE GYM BECAUSE YOU AREN'T MEETING PEOPLE?

One might assume that joining a gym can not only help the individual with physical health but also improve his or her social life. While true in some situations, that’s certainly not always the case and depends upon a variety of factors.

Research has revealed that during repetitive endurance-type activities (such as lifting weights at the gym), music chosen by the individual can improve energy efficiency, make the workout feel easier, and lead to increased work output. Thus, when a person selects music that he or she enjoys and that fits the individual’s exercise routine, it can result in a better overall exercise experience.

Because many individuals opt for wearing headphones at the gym, it can create an environment that becomes much more individualized and one that does not foster easy engagement with others. That doesn’t necessarily mean that people don’t converse with those they don’t know, but it can often minimize the possibilities or limit situations in which people will talk with one another.

“I do talk to people who don’t look like they are deep into a workout,” Dallas-area resident JT Gordon said. “I’m more social at the pickleball, recovery, lounge, and pool areas because I know I’m not interrupting a session.”

Gordon also acknowledged that headphones can certainly be a sign that a gym-goer doesn’t want to talk to anyone and, instead, would prefer to be left alone during his or her workout.

“A person will usually wear one ear bud if they are OK with being approached,” he said. “I take one out when I see a hottie.”

And just because people are in a setting with a multitude of other individuals does not mean they desire to interact with those around them. Dallas resident Matt McNutt said he generally keeps to himself when he goes to the gym for a workout.

“For me, the gym is ‘me time’ and a chance to decompress and focus on my workout without distractions,” he said.

Like Gordon and many others, McNutt said he believes that he sees headphones as a universal “do not disturb” signal from those wearing them.

“For me, it’s an unspoken rule that if someone has earbuds in, they are locked in with their music and aren’t looking for conversation,” he said.

There are gyms, however, that are intentionally designed to allow members to be more social. Places such as Fit Social Club, F45 Training, Barry’s, and several others offer structured classes with limited spots and environments that create natural opportunities to talk and form friendships, acquaintanceships, and other relationships with workout participants.

Julia Bisaillon, a registered nurse in College Station, Texas, is a regular at F45 and said she enjoys being able to exercise in such a space.

“What keeps me coming back is the community aspect,” she said. “We all encourage each other and know one another on a personal level.”

For Bisaillon, meeting other people is an integral component of group classes, as opposed to lifting weights in a more isolated and individualized setting.

“It can be intimidating going to the gym by yourself if you’re new to working out or even if you moved to a new area, so group classes connect you with like-minded people,” she said.

There are certainly times that Bisaillon said she would rather not socialize too much when she’s at a gym, though she noted that even solo workout sessions can create chances to form connections with others.

“If I’m doing my own workout, I probably prefer to be left alone,” she said. “However, oftentimes, the same people go to the gym at the same times, so if you see someone over and over, usually talking to them ends up making a friendship or workout buddy.”

Similarly, Gordon said it doesn’t bother him if people want to talk to him at the gym if he is in the middle of a workout, as long as it is a brief interaction.

“Beyond five minutes is too long if I’m lifting or doing cardio,” he said. “If it’s in the lounge or cafe, that’s different.”

And some individuals simply wish not to talk much with others at all when they make a trip to the gym, as they are there for a sole purpose.

“I usually prefer being left alone while I’m working out,” McNutt said. “I usually have a specific routine and have allocated a specific amount of time, so stopping to chat can break my routine.”

Despite often being a headphone-centric facility with patrons who choose to focus on their own workouts, the gym can still serve as a place for individuals to meet people, whether for friendship, networking, potential dating prospects, or other forms of connection. Bisaillon said whether or not that happens is contingent upon the environment and the specific people.

“I have made so many friends in group fitness settings, and that tends to keep me accountable,” she said. “It’s simple to connect over the gym because it gives you an immediate point to talk about and invites conversation.”

Similarly, McNutt pointed out that while the gym does offer a place for individuals to make connections, especially with others who generally are there at the same time as one another, it can sometimes be tricky and requires the right situation and way of going about interacting.

“Since most people are there to work out, I think it’s better for passive networking, seeing the same faces, and eventually becoming gym acquaintances,” he said. “For dating prospects or serious networking, it really depends on the environment. Having social awareness is important.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff and a dear reader formed a human star (sort of?) in support of the Dallas Stars in Round 1 of the Stanley Cup Playoffs

Upcoming
Events

Monday, April 20: Stars vs. Wild (Game 2) at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, April 21: Free Rooftop Movie — Norbit at Sundown at Granada; Taylor Swift Trivia Night at Legacy Hall; Bush at the Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Wednesday, April 22: Rangers vs. Pirates at Globe Life Field
Thursday, April 23: 2026 Dallas Cowboys Draft Party at the Ford Center at The Star; Tyler Childers at Dos Equis Pavilion; Eric Johnson at House of Blues Dallas
Friday, April 24: Dallas Silent Disco — Hilary & Lizzy McGuire vs. Miley & Hannah Montana at Klyde Warren Park; Frisco RoughRiders vs. Tulsa Drillers at Riders Field
Saturday, April 25: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Run the Highlands 5K at Lake Highlands High School; Draft Day 5K at The Star; Frisco Uncorked at Frisco Square; HoYoFair Fan Concert at Music Hall at Fair Park; Jazz at the Museum at the Dallas Museum of Art
Sunday, April 26: Cycling Group Ride at Community Beer Co.; Rangers vs. A’s at Globe Life Field

NatNews: Issue 213

Mon, 13 Apr 2026 11:59:24 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

April 13, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 213

IT'S OK TO CRY

Mr. Rogers once said “it takes strength to face our sadness and to grieve and to let our grief and our anger flow in tears when they need to.”

Though you don’t need permission from Mr. Rogers to cry, allowing yourself to do so is actually beneficial for your physical and mental health.

Research has found that right before an individual lets the tears flow, the nervous system’s fight-or-flight response peaks. Once the crying is underway, that person’s nervous system begins to experience the relaxation response.

Dallas-area resident and school counselor Olivia Wetzel said from the perspective of not only a counselor but also a neurodivergent person, crying is an emotional expression she has become rather close to, both professionally and personally. She also noted that crying is quite physically impactful on the body.

“Something that my own therapist shared with me once is that crying is one of the human body’s many regulation tools,” she said. “When your body gets warm, you start to sweat to cool down. When your nervous system is processing strong emotions—feeling happy, sad, excited, overwhelmed, etc.—crying and tears are a release and regulator for the nervous system.”

That regulation also comes as a result of the triggering of the release of “feel-good” chemicals, such as endorphins and oxytocin, which create feelings of connection and safety within one’s nervous system. Wetzel said some people are quicker to cry than others, and there is nothing wrong with that.

“Their bodies are doing what they need to regulate,” she said. “There is a reason sometimes people feel tired after they cry or need to take a few minutes to breathe—the body and nervous system are regulating at the same time that the individual is processing feelings and stimuli. By crying, your body is literally trying to support.”

The previously mentioned research asserts that tearful crying facilitates social connections, as it communicates a person’s needs and values to others and shows them that the individual is struggling. Wetzel also provided the reminder that crying can often serve as a valuable form of communication when words are not available.

“Babies cry when they need something (communication), and they cry when they are tired, scared, or overstimulated (regulation),” she said.

Though crying helps people process and express emotions, not everyone is so easily brought to tears or willing to let them crawl over the ledge. Wetzel said she has always been someone who has felt her feelings deeply, so tears come pretty easily for her.

“I have learned in my adult life, mostly, the more I try to suppress this process, the worse it is,” she said. “As I have learned more about myself and also through my counseling education, I have learned to recognize signals of when I may need a break or what may spark tears for me.”

While Wetzel said she believes that people should lean into crying, she knows that doing so can sometimes begin to feel rather heavy. She said if an individual finds that crying is starting to affect that person’s work environment or other areas of life, there are two considerations to keep in mind.

“Other people may have had different experiences, thoughts, and perceptions when it comes to crying,” she said. “Just because someone does something differently or does not cry as often does not mean you are doing something wrong or they are doing something wrong. And I always encourage people to reach out to a mental health professional or counselor if they have questions or need extra support processing emotions.”

Historically, crying was seen as a sign of weakness or an emotional expression that was solely reserved for only some of the population. Wetzel said such a stigma serves as a detriment, as allowing for the release of tears is a natural way to communicate and process what one is feeling.

“Unfortunately, for a long time, emotions and tears have been given the label of being feminine,” she said. “By labeling feelings and crying this way, it affects everyone negatively. This creates a system in which women are expected to carry and not only process their own emotions but also everyone else’s.”

And Wetzel acknowledged that women are certainly not the only ones impacted by such beliefs and stereotypes.

“On the flip side of the coin, this creates a barrier for men to express their emotions,” she said. “Recently, we saw two male astronauts hug each other and cry while floating in a rocket ship in space as a newly discovered moon crater was named after astronaut Reid Wiseman’s late wife, Carroll. Especially now, more than ever, we need more moments like the one we witnessed on the moon.”

For individuals who do not necessarily feel comfortable crying Wetzel said she strongly recommends connecting with a therapist or mental health professional to help unpack potential thoughts, feelings, and biases around crying. She also said how a person reacts to others crying carries significance.

“To avoid adding to the negative stigma, if someone is crying, simply be present and allow them to cry,” she said. “If they apologize, reassure them that it is OK to express their feelings, and if they need to cry, it’s OK to do so.”

Wetzel added that sharing moments when tears are involved with others is often a crucial part of life.

“Happy moments, sad moments, scary moments, and exciting moments are all moments that may bring tears,” she said. “Embrace them. Suck it up, and cry.”

DID YOU KNOW?

The average lifespan of an MLB baseball is seven pitches.

PLENTY OF BAGEL OPTIONS THROUGHOUT THE METROPLEX

Though New York often prides itself in offering the most impressive and delicious bagels, don’t sleep on the local establishments throughout the Dallas area.

After all, many residents are quite passionate about their bagel consumption. In fact, a recent NatNews research initiative found that 92 percent of respondents eat bagels on a regular basis, while only 4 percent are not fans, and 4 percent cannot or do not eat bread.

Dallas resident Elizabeth Cruz said she does not eat bagels as often as she would like, but she does include them in her life at least once a month. Her love for bagels is the result of a multitude of factors.

“Well, I love bread, but I like how soft but also dense it is,” she said. “I also love all of the stuff you can put on them—whether you want a plain one, one with a schmear, or a breakfast sammie.”

Cruz said how she opts to take her bagel is contingent upon her mood.

“My go-to, though, is a blueberry bagel with strawberry schmear on one side and a honey almond schmear on the other,” she said. “Or I go with a breakfast sandwich (sesame bagel) with bacon, egg, and cheese. Always toasted.”

Like Cruz, Dallas-area resident Bill Smith said he does not consume bagels often enough, noting he probably does so only once or twice a month. For him, bagels bring joy because they serve as a form of nostalgic comfort food.

“Every Sunday after church, my family would go to the local bagel shop,” he said. “My biggest worry back then was what flavor of bagel I would pick on Sunday morning. So, bagels are a chicken soup for my soul.”

Smith said he also has a special order that he prefers that takes him back to fond memories from his past.

“I get an everything bagel (no sunflower seeds—what even is that?) toasted with salted butter because that is what my mom always ordered,” he said. “Or it’s an egg bagel in a chicken salad melt. But the chicken salad has to be made with Old Bay. It’s the Maryland kid in me.”

Smith isn’t the only one who delights in bagels because of their significant history in his life. Dallas-area resident Greg Cohen said he eats bagels once a week and enjoys the sense of nostalgia they provide as he recalls eating them when he was growing up in New York.

“For me, bagels have been a source of deliciousness,” he said. “They are a great carb source and can easily be a meal at any time of the day, with varied options for toppings, sandwiches, etc.”

Cohen added that he is a traditionalist and prefers his bagels plain, though he is willing to change things up every once in a while.

“I also love cinnamon raisin,” he said. “My favorite bagel combo is cinnamon raisin and tuna salad with lettuce, tomato, and cheese. I also dig a plain bagel with lox spread. I eat my cream cheesed bagels open-faced and the others sammie-style, including egg and cheese.”

Throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, there are several bagel store options, including Starship Bagel, Benny’s Bagels, Shug’s Bagels, Abby’s Bagels, Sclafani’s New York Bagels & Sandwiches, and Dan’s Bagels. Cohen, who is rather new to Texas after moving from Los Angeles in 2025, said he is still trying different places, but he enjoys bagels from Starship when he is able to make it to the location nearest to him.

“Starship Bagel is the bomb.com,” he said. “It also won ‘Best Bagel’ at a national competition in New York. When I go back to my hometown on Long Island in New York, I hit up my hometown bagel joint. I am not a huge fan of corporate bagel shops (Noah’s or Einstein Bros), but in a pinch, they will do.”

Cohen, who might have a strong case as a bagel connoisseur, also noted that he is certainly willing to step into unknown bagel establishments and allow his taste buds to experience the unexpected.

“I am a foodie and will explore anything that is new and newsworthy,” he said. “Let me know, and I am there. I should have a bagel-tasting show on the Food Network.”

Cruz said she typically prefers Shug’s or Benny’s Bagels, as she believes that they offer the closest thing to a real NYC bagel. She is also looking forward to the new PopUp Bagels that is set to open soon in the Inwood Village area.

“I ate there in NYC, and I remember it being good, so I’m excited to try it again,” she said.

Sticking with the affinity for New York-style bagels, Smith said he generally opts for the round delights from Deli News Dallas off Preston Road and Campbell Road, as it offers the closest option in Texas he has found to the bagels he enjoyed in his childhood. However, Smith said he is more than willing to try different bagel shops as they arrive in the area.

“Good bagel places are few and far between,” he said. “New ones should always be explored, and the good ones should be promoted to keep them around. The better the bagel game becomes in Dallas, the happier we’ll all be.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Not all weekends are social, so here is a picture of the NatNews mascot

Upcoming
Events

Monday, April 13: Addison Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 24–35) at Hawkers Asian Street Food; Dallas Wings WNBA Draft Party at Happiest Hour
Tuesday, April 14: Free Rooftop Movie — Selena at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, April 15: Neil deGrasse Tyson — An Astrophysicist Goes to the Movies, Part III at the Winspear Opera House
Thursday, April 16: Candlelight — 90s Hip-Hop on Strings at the Irving Arts Center; ‘90s Tribute — The Clinton Years at Legacy Hall
Friday, April 17: Children’s Cancer Fund 36th Annual Gala at the Hilton Anatole; The Village Spring Main Street Fest at The Village Dallas; Taste! at The Star at the Ford Center at The Star
Saturday, April 18: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Dallas Annual Crawfish Boil at White Rock Brewing Co.; Tacos and Takedowns Festival at Legacy Hall; Cocina Flamenca Live at the Latino Cultural Center; Allen Americans vs. KC Mavericks at the Credit Union of Texas Event Center
Sunday, April 19: Pizza Fest 2026 at Eataly Dallas; Dallas Wellness Crawl on Greenville Avenue at the Gym of Social Mechanics

NatNews: Issue 212

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 11:59:28 +0100

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April 6, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 212

DON'T LET PLANTAR FASCIITIS PLAGUE YOUR LIFE

It is not completely uncommon for athletes, particularly runners, at some point in their lives to experience an aggravating and often rather painful condition that seems odd both to spell and say: plantar fasciitis.

Commonly resulting in heel pain that can sometimes feel like one is being stabbed on the bottom of his or her foot, plantar fasciitis is also not always easily understood by those suffering from it, and there are several factors (e.g., types of shoes, foot structure, overuse, and various walking surfaces) that can contribute to its plague upon a person’s once undisturbed feet.

Katie Overton, Dallas-based doctor of physical therapy, said plantar fasciitis is inflammation of the plantar fascia, which is the large tissue covering the bottom of the foot holding all of the muscles in place, and noted that there are also other key lifestyle and body components that can result in this undesired condition.

“Improper load management, improper shoes (usually poor-fitting shoes), repetitive stress on the feet (think running a marathon when you’ve only walked a few blocks leading up to it), and tight muscles and tendons surrounding the foot and ankle (especially tight Achilles tendons) can lead to plantar fasciitis,” she said.

While sometimes it does seem as if the pain will never subside, it turns out that not all hope is lost. Overton said the most effective way to treat plantar fasciitis is to improve load management of the affected foot.

“This means properly stretching the calf muscles, Achilles tendon, and plantar fascia while also loading the foot with proper foot exercises,” she said.

At her practice, Overton offers myofascial release therapy, a hands-on massage technique that (as the name implies) releases tightness and pain in one’s fascial tissues. In addition to treatments, Overton said it is also essential for a person to wear proper shoes with enough support.

“Working with a shoe expert is incredibly helpful for this,” she said. “I usually send my patients to Luke’s Locker or The Good Feet Store to find the best shoes for their foot types. If the foot is incredibly inflamed, decreasing load on the foot is important. I recommend my patients who love running and walking do something like cycling for a couple of weeks to continue with their cardiovascular conditioning but decrease the high-impact load on the feet.”

For those who have never experienced plantar fasciitis or have and never want to again, there are proactive measures individuals can take. Overton said the best way to prevent the irritating condition is to work on proper foot loading and mobility.

“Most people don’t think about stretching their feet, but it is incredibly important,” she said. “I teach my patients about ‘yogi toes’ and trying to gain better control of how the foot moves both when standing on it and not. Working on strengthening the little muscles in the foot also helps to support the joints better.”

While many individuals walk on their feet on a daily basis and never reflect on just how important they are, Overton provided the reminder that people’s feet are “incredibly intricate,” as these body parts include four layers of muscles connecting all of the joints together.

“These little muscles need to be strong to help support the foot, which will decrease reliance on the plantar fascia to hold everything together,” she said. “My favorite exercises are towel scrunches, arch lifts, and toe-separation exercises for improving strength and control of the foot.”

Because of how much fascia humans have within them, Overton said it is absolutely important for the entire body to experience myofascial release therapy.

“Fascia is everywhere in the body, connecting muscles, blood vessels, nerves, etc., and the spiderweb network of fascia can get really tight,” she said. “Tension in one part of fascia can lead to issues elsewhere. The craziest case I’ve seen was someone’s upper neck causing tension in the lower hip because of the fascial connections—totally wild! So, performing fascial release all over the body helps the body feel like it can move better without restrictions.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Despite what Old MacDonald might lead you to believe, not all ducks quack—the quacking sound associated with ducks is that of the female mallard (the male mallard does not quack).

THERE'S PROBABLY AN EMOJI FOR HOW YOU'RE FEELING RIGHT NOW

Don’t be too offended if someone doesn’t answer your call but replies to a text rather quickly—some people are simply more comfortable being able to think through their words and see what they are saying.

Texting has become a common form of communication, with many individuals (including more than 75 percent of millennials) preferring texting over talking on the phone. In America, more than 6 billion texts are sent each day, and more than 25 billion are sent every day on a global scale.

But sometimes words alone aren’t enough, and emojis are necessary to further convey one’s feelings and emotions, whether they are used in a more playful sense or serious tone. Some people truly appreciate emojis and use them as often as possible, while others are more careful or apathetic about incorporating the tiny images into their messages.

Hawaii resident Tara Janke is an avid fan of emojis and said she adds them into her text messages quite frequently.

“I mainly use them to help portray tone, which can be hard to do in texts,” she said. “Emojis help with that—and they are fun.”

For some individuals, emoji use is contingent upon the people with whom they are texting or the context of the conversation. Janke said this is somewhat true for her to an extent but not completely.

“I mostly don’t care who it is because it’s consistent with me and how I text,” she said. “And the thing with emojis is that there is one for every topic, so I don’t think I use them less or more depending on the topic.”

Like Janke, Dallas-area resident Stephanie Hone said she uses emojis while texting all of the time, noting that she likely does use them more often in conversations with closer friends and family members.

“They make things feel happier or softer,” she said. “They help with tone, I guess. If you’re not speaking and someone can’t hear your voice, sometimes the emoji helps carry that forward.”

Not everyone is all for emojis all of the time, though. Dallas resident Pete Krogulski said he adds emojis in his messages sometimes, though that use certainly depends upon the individuals on the receiving end of his texts.

“In a professional setting, no emojis, unless I know the audience well enough on the group text chain,” he said. “Communicating with friends or in a non-professional setting, then yes, to express feelings and emotions and sometimes to save time, as a picture or emoji is worth a thousand words.”

Krogulski said when opting whether or not to include emojis, it’s important to understand and have a feel for how the recipient will receive them, especially within the context of whatever topic is being discussed at the time.

“If the interaction is professional or more formal, then I will minimize or not use emojis to ensure that the tone remains professional and/or formal,” he said. “You don’t want to send the wrong message or signals by using an emoji that may have different meanings.”

And there are several emojis that can be interpreted differently or can convey different meanings to different people in various situations. This is no surprise to Janke, though.

“That goes with anything, especially texting or any form of written communication,” she said.

Krogulski acknowledged that he is also highly aware of how easily emojis can be misunderstood from what they were originally created to mean.

“While the emoji is intended to convey emotion, the same emoji can be interpreted differently—either positively or negatively—depending on the topic, user’s age, platform, and culture,” he said. “Emojis meant to be humorous may come across as showing a lack of respect.”

Some individuals, though, are not too concerned about emojis being taken in the wrong way by those on the receiving end of texts. Hone said because she is a millennial, it’s not likely that she doesn’t use emojis correctly often.

“If you’re misusing them, you’re a rookie,” she said. “I think our generation is the emoji. I mean, the 90s smiley face? Come on—we are the emojis.”

Communication is quite an important factor in life, particularly in any kind of relationship, and texting is a popularly used means in which people communicate with one another. Krogulski said whether or not emojis enhance or worsen communication depends on what the texter is trying to convey and the mood or context that individual wants the recipient to relate to or feel.

“I’m a visual communicator, a.k.a. ‘storyteller’ data person, and so, as I stated earlier, I think a picture or emoji is worth a thousand words,” he said. “You need to be sensitive and careful on which emojis to use and when they are appropriate to use. Using or sending the wrong emoji(s) can send the wrong message to the receiver(s) on the other end of the conversation. But in general, emojis are seen as an alternative tool of expression that can enhance informal communication by way of speed and tone.”

Hone, however, has found emojis to be an effective way to communicate better with others, as they help people further understand how she is feeling or wants the other person to feel at the time of sending the message.

“I love them,” she said. “If something’s funny, I use the crying-laughing face; if I feel silly or crazy, it might be the zany face or upside-down smiley; if I want you to feel a little extra love, I can go with the pink double-heart emoji or the simple red heart. Also, listen, I know there are the naughty emojis, too, but I don’t need to use those. For those who do, more power to you. I’m sure there are others, but those are the ones I don’t really know about—lolz.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff and some dear readers recently gathered together for basketball, hockey, and Easter festivities

Upcoming
Events

Monday, April 6: Rangers vs. Mariners at Globe Life Field
Tuesday, April 7: Stars vs. Flames at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — Rush Hour at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, April 8: Frisco RoughRiders vs. Midland Rockhounds at Riders Field; Allen Americans vs. Wichita Thunder at Credit Union of Texas Event Center
Thursday, April 9: Stars vs. Wild at the American Airlines Center
Friday, April 10: Sound SESSION at the Bomb Factory; Callum Scott at House of Blues Dallas; Candlelight — 90s Unplugged at the Joule
Saturday, April 11: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Texas Big Star Half Marathon & 5K at Collin College Frisco; Stars vs. Rangers at the American Airlines Center; Taylor Swift Tribute — Reputation at Legacy Hall
Sunday, April 12: Mavs vs. Bulls at the American Airlines Center; Pop-Punk Brunch Club at Legacy Hall

NatNews: Issue 211

Mon, 30 Mar 2026 11:59:26 +0100

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March 30, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 211

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WILLING TO INVEST FINANCIALLY INTO FITNESS?

For many individuals, maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes a focus on fitness and exercise is vital for overall well-being.

A nationwide survey conducted by the Health & Fitness Association at the end of 2025 revealed that approximately 56 percent of American adults (approximately 151 million) indicated that they had personal goals for 2026, with 54 percent of those individuals (roughly 82 million) expressing that their focus would be on health, exercise, and fitness.

Dallas resident Marie Puebla said fitness is a non-negotiable aspect of her life for more than one reason.

“It goes beyond physical appearance—it directly impacts my mental health, discipline, and overall quality of life,” she said. “As a mom, student, and coach, fitness is what helps me show up as my best self in every role I have. It gives me structure, confidence, and a sense of control, especially during busy or stressful seasons. Over time, I’ve shifted my perspective from seeing fitness as optional or a ‘luxury’ to recognizing it as essential for long-term health and well-being.”

Like Puebla, Dallas resident Amara Saucedo noted that fitness is extremely important to her lifestyle, especially as it pertains to self-care beyond the physical component.

“I struggle with anxiety and depression, and movement has become a vital outlet for managing both,” she said. “The consistency and routine help me find a sense of peace, and I genuinely love being outside. It’s not just exercise—it’s part of how I take care of myself mentally and emotionally.”

Maintaining a consistent physical fitness routine can also help individuals in other areas of their lives that one might not initially expect. Dallas resident and dedicated runner and HYROX participant David Cerezo is a frequent concert attendee and has found that keeping up with his training allows him to enjoy shows as he prefers.

“If I want to stage dive on top of poor little Billy’s head and potentially knock out his tooth by accident, I want to do so in the best physical shape ever,” he said. “And having a good baseline of fitness and endurance will get me there if I exercise and eat well.”

While health and exercise can certainly be wise investments in terms of time and energy, they sometimes prove to be rather significant financial investments, as well. According to the research findings from the previously mentioned survey, expected spending averages to $61 per month (approximately $733 per year) for those with health and fitness goals. Collectively, this would mean Americans will spend $60 billion in planned health and fitness spending by the end of this year.

Cerezo acknowledged that while not every individual who enjoys focusing on fitness invests the same amount of money, he is willing to pay what is necessary to lead the health-centric lifestyle he desires.

“It’s a no-brainer for me if I want to be physically fit, not only for athletic or everyday life endeavors but also for mental health,” he said. “For some, the financial investment forces an individual to commit to the task—the same way an avid runner pays for a race to keep that fitness momentum going.”

Cerezo said in addition to spending on running shoes, which he estimates to total to more than $1,000 each year, now that he is a little older than he once was, recovery has been his current primary focus to help with the more intensive workouts. Such recovery care includes massage therapy, chiropractor and podiatrist visits, yoga, strength training at the gym, primary care physician appointments, etc.

“If the national average car payment is more than $700 a month, then one can afford to invest that much into their health—but only if they actually care about their health,” he said. “Everyone’s body type and current health status are different, but perhaps between $200 and $700 a month is a reasonable amount.”

Puebla said the most significant financial investment toward her fitness lifestyle is typically a combination of her gym membership and classes and event-related expenses, such as race entries, travel, and gear. Though costly at times, Puebla noted that they are necessary to ensure that she maintains her health as she achieves her goals.

“Events like races or competitions can add up quickly when you factor in registration fees, transportation, and accommodations,” she said. “However, I believe they are worth the investment because they provide a sense of purpose, motivation, and community. They give structure to my training and create meaningful experiences that go beyond just working out. Additionally, investing in proper shoes and gear is important for performance and injury prevention, making it a worthwhile expense.”

Puebla acknowledged that a reasonable monthly investment for fitness can certainly vary and be contingent upon one’s goals and lifestyles. For her personally, that amount would be anywhere between $150 to $300 per month.

“This range allows for access to a gym or training facility as well as potential coaching or structured programming,” she said. “I see this as a valuable investment because it supports consistency, provides guidance, and helps me stay aligned with my goals. For me, it’s comparable to investing in any other essential area of life that improves my well-being and performance.”

Saucedo said she does not spend a great deal of money on fitness-related components, and where she chooses to invest most financially in regard to health and exercise is replacing running shoes every three to four months.

“While races can add up, I plan ahead by setting aside small amounts from each paycheck into separate savings for race entries and travel, which helps reduce stress,” she said. “I keep my clothing budget low—most of my gear is thrifted or affordable. If there’s one area I think is truly worth investing in, it’s shoes—not necessarily the most expensive or carbon-plated options but ones that work well for you and are replaced regularly.”

Saucedo said she believes that a person does not necessarily need to spend a significant amount of money to reach his or her fitness goals.

“There are plenty of affordable ways to stay active that don’t require sacrificing your time or finances,” she said. “I don’t follow a strict monthly budget for fitness. I don’t use apps or trackers, and I keep things pretty simple.”

And while whether or not one opts to invest significantly or minimally financially into fitness and exercise is a matter of personal preference, economic ability, and additional factors, what’s important is for people to find what works for them and their goals pertaining to their physical and mental health.

“Investing in fitness is really an investment in your health, longevity, and daily performance,” Puebla said. “When you prioritize things like coaching, gym access, or quality nutrition, you’re not just paying for workouts—you’re paying for guidance, accountability, injury prevention, and sustainable results. While it can feel expensive upfront, it often prevents larger costs down the line related to health issues or lack of structure. That said, I also believe fitness should be accessible, and there are ways to prioritize it at different budget levels.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Emperor penguins can dive deeper than any other bird, typically diving between 330 to 650 feet and the deepest dive recorded at 1,850 feet.

MAYBE "LEAVING ON A JET PLANE" ISN'T THE SONG FOR YOU

It’s not breaking news that a partial shutdown impacting TSA has resulted in staffing shortages, unpaid workers, and the ensuing extended wait times to get through airport security. You can still get to some places you want to go and avoid such a situation, and you’ll likely make your vehicle and gas stations rather happy.

Perhaps it’s time to allow the dear road trip warriors to welcome you with open arms.

And there are quite a few road trippers out there. Approximately two years ago, Michelin commissioned a survey conducted by OnePoll revealing that 73 percent of the 2,000 American drivers who participated prefer cars as their transportation mode for vacationing. Last summer, a research initiative by Enterprise Mobility showed that 60 percent of Americans surveyed desired to embark upon vacation life via their own personal vehicles or rental cars.

Dallas-area resident Jessica Smith said what she truly enjoys most about experiencing a trip from the driver or passenger seat of a car is being able to soak in everything along the way.

“I love road trips,” she said. “I love discovering the sights you’d never notice otherwise, and I always do a little research ahead of time to find quirky or must-see stops and great local places to eat. Some of my favorite moments, though, are the conversations in the car—the kind you only get when you’re on the road with nowhere to be but your destination.”

Smith said one of the best trips she has ever taken was a recent journey to Big Bend and Marfa, Texas.

“Where the wide-open sky meets the desert, the scenery was absolutely breathtaking,” she said. “Marfa itself was such a fun, quirky town with a strong artistic spirit. It felt like the perfect escape from city life—peaceful and unique, and at night, the stars were incredibly clear and unforgettable.”

Like Smith, Colorado resident Erin Miller is a strong advocate for road trips, noting that she truly loves planning them and being able to see surprises along the way.

“What I enjoy most is experiencing new places and people, and on a road trip, you not only get to visit a destination, but you also get to experience everything in between,” she said. “I also love listening to music, audiobooks, and podcasts along the way. For the most part, it can be a very relaxing experience, whereas I find flying and airports to be very stressful.”

The most memorable and enjoyable road trip Miller said she has taken was when she and her husband, Jamie, went on a six-month escapade in their travel trailer.

“It was incredible,” she said. “It took months of planning, but our goal was to see as many of the national parks in the west that we hadn’t previously visited, hike as much as possible, and explore cool towns in between. We drove from Texas through Arizona to California, where we spent time on the west and east side of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. From there, we drove to Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado."

Miller said what she loved most about this excursion was the “absolute beauty” that she and Jamie experienced together.

“From deserts to mountains to lush, mossy forests, we took in so many amazing views and explored so many places,” she said. “I found myself with tears in my eyes many times because I was so in awe of what I was seeing. There were so many surprises, too. Places like Bellingham, Washington; Whitefish, Montana; and our new hometown of Paonia, Colorado, touched our hearts and our souls.”

Why some individuals opt for hopping in their cars rather than on planes to travel is not necessarily the same for others. For Smith, she said her preference for road trips over flying is because the journey itself becomes part of the adventure.

“Getting there feels like its own kind of vacation,” she said. “If I had flown to many of the places I’ve visited, I would have missed out on so much—hidden gems, amazing local restaurants, and even the chance encounters with people along the way.”

For Miller, who said she would absolutely rather drive than fly, much of her affinity for road trips is because of the flexibility and simplicity they allow.

“I like to be able to throw my things in the car, put on some music, and just drive,” she said. “I like to find fun places to camp along the way or find cool hotels or Airbnbs. I like having the freedom to change my plans if I want. I don’t like airports or going through security or schlepping my bags around. We flew to Los Cabos, Mexico, and we talked about how next time we would rather drive down there to experience some of the small towns and the culture of that part of Mexico.”

And quite notably, Miller said there is also another rather significant reason she and her husband prefer to travel by car rather than by plane.

“One of the greatest perks of driving is getting to take our dog with us everywhere,” she said. “We hated not having her with us in Mexico and would rather drive so that we can take her.”

Road trips often create additional and sometimes unexpected opportunities for adventure, which can certainly be an appealing aspect of traveling by car instead of by plane. Miller said adventure is one of the most important parts of her life.

“Before going on the road, I felt I was always escaping from my life,” she said. “Being on the road taught me that adventure is something I need to feel fully alive. When looking for a place to ‘settle’ at the end of our trip, we knew we needed a jumping-off point for regular adventures.”

And for Miller and Jamie, Colorado allows them to fulfill that longing.

“We live frugally so that we can prioritize trips with our camper, hiking, mountain biking, and skiing,” she said. “There will come a time when our bodies won’t allow us to live this way, so we have to do it while we can. When we get older, we can fly to Europe and go sight-seeing.”

Like Miller, Smith said adventure is a significant component of her life, noting that though it has always been important to her, as she gets older, it means even more.

“I find myself feeling a deeper sense of gratitude and a greater appreciation for the simple things—nature, new experiences, and meaningful connections,” she said. “I also hope to model that sense of curiosity and exploration for my children, encouraging them to discover the world in their own way one day. Did I mention I love road trips?”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Yes, we did ensure the result of the most perfectly built desk—just don’t ask us about Step 11

Upcoming
Events

Monday, March 30: Mavs vs. Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, March 31: Free Rooftop Movie — One of Them Days at Sundown at Granada; Tiffany at Granada Theater
Wednesday, April 1: Dababy at the Echo Lounge and Music Hall
Thursday, April 2: Stars vs. Jets at the American Airlines Center; Paramore Tribute — Ain’t It Fun at Legacy Hall
Friday, April 3: Mavs vs. Magic at the American Airlines Center; Easter Egg Hunt at the Dallas Arboretum (also on Saturday); Party with My Peeps at The Village Dallas
Saturday, April 4: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Stars vs. Avalanche at the American Airlines Center; Ally Venable with Alastair Greene at Granada Theater; Easter Eggstravaganza at PGA Frisco; Candlelight — 90s Unplugged at the Joule
Sunday, April 5: Mavs vs. Lakers at the American Airlines Center; Easter brunches at various restaurants throughout the Dallas area

NatNews: Issue 210

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 11:59:31 +0100

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March 23, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 210

UNDER THE SEA: ADVENTURES IN SCUBA DIVING

Approximately 71 percent of the world is covered in water, with oceans making up more than 96 percent of such liquid, and some individuals—whether naturally adventurous or not—become fascinated by the underwater world and enjoy opportunities to explore it.

They can pour one out for Frenchmen Jacques-Yves Cousteau and Emile Gagnan, who are credited with inventing scuba diving and the gear that helps keep people alive while doing so in the early 1940s.

According to the Diving Equipment and Marketing Association, there are approximately 2.5 million active scuba divers in the U.S. and roughly 6 million worldwide. Since 1967, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) has issued more than 30 million diver certifications globally.

Former Dallas and now Puerto Rico resident Julie Lanaux accounts for one of those active divers. Lanaux said she completed the certification process in 2019, a little less than a year before COVID-19 changed the world.

“Between the pandemic and living in land-locked Dallas, I think I was diving about three times a year for a while there, and most of my travel focused around scuba diving,” she said.

But Lanaux and her husband, Andre, moved to Puerto Rico last July, so her diving frequency has increased significantly.

“I live about 10 minutes from one of the most popular dive shops on the east coast, so I dive about once a month now,” she said.

Scuba diving hasn’t always been such an enjoyable activity for Lanaux, though. She said when she initially began, she didn’t necessarily look forward to each descent into the ocean blue.

“I was terrified of sharks, but my husband wanted to dive,” she said. “I never want to be the person to hold him back from doing something he genuinely wants to do, so I opted to give it a try. My first few dives, we stuck to fresh water to avoid sharks. But then on my first trip to Cozumel, and the first time I saw the wreck of the C-53 minesweeper there, I was sold.”

And that experience seeing the wreck’s remains sparked an interest in Lanaux, who said what she now enjoys most about her diving adventures are wrecks and sharks—yes, the animal that once resulted in fear and hesitation.

“The bonus is that wrecks often attract sharks for various reasons, so it’s the best of both worlds,” she said. “There is something otherworldly to entering a shipwreck and swimming down hallways and through doors that someone once walked through. And it never ceases to take my breath away when I enter a room in a wreck and can identify what the room initially was—whether that be the engine room, the wheelhouse, or even a bathroom.”

But wreckage and sharks aren’t the only encounters that make dives exciting for Lanaux. Throughout all of her scuba escapades, there is one in particular that stands out above the rest. Lanaux said, hands down, her most memorable underwater experience was the manta dive in Kona, Hawaii.

“It is one of those bucket-list dives that most divers strive to do at least once,” she said. “It’s a night dive in about 30 feet of water. Divers form a large circle on the sea floor, while the shops place dive lights in milk crates in the middle of the circle. The lights attract plankton, which then attract the mantas to feed.”

Lanaux added that one aspect that contributed to the uniqueness of this special moment was that it is the only place in the world where divers can experience such an occurrence.

“There is nothing that compares to having a manta ray with a 10-foot wingspan swim so closely over your head that it brushes up against you,” she said.

There are several organizations and facilities, including the International Scuba Dive Tribe in the Dallas area, providing lessons and certification in scuba diving. Interested potential future scuba divers can also use Go Dive Now as a resource to find additional locations.

Lanaux said she understands that diving may cause apprehension in some individuals, especially those who are fearful that they might meet the real-life villain in Jaws—after all, she was once one of those people.

“I know that sharks are a large reason many people do not want to dive, but the more I have learned about sharks and the more I have interacted with them, I have realized that the fear is largely unfounded,” she said.

In fact, Lanaux said the bigger risk is actually to swimmers and surfers at the surface of the water, not to the divers submerged below.

“Most sharks hunt their prey at the surface, and you can be mistaken for food, particularly when the water is murky,” she said. “At depth, sharks don’t view you as prey—you are a fellow predator. They definitely come around to check you out, but it is more out of curiosity than anything. So go diving—you’re far less likely to be attacked as a scuba diver than as a swimmer.”

DID YOU KNOW?

The skin of a kiwi is edible and actually provides more nutrients, including 50 percent more fiber, than eating the fruit without its skin.

IF IKEA OVERWHELMS YOU, YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Sweden has provided enjoyment for many individuals with its music and meatballs, but there is also a popular four-letter word it has brought to some people’s lives: IKEA.

Beginning as a small mail-order company in rural Sweden in the 1940s, IKEA has become a well-known home furnishing brand with more than 500 stores throughout the world. Named after the initials of Ingvar Kamprad (its founder), Elmtaryd (the farm on which Kamprad grew up), and Agunnaryd (a nearby village), IKEA offers its customers an inordinate amount of product options as well as sustenance for their shopping excursions.

Dallas-area resident Jason Vaile said his initial experience at IKEA was when the first Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex location opened in Frisco in 2005.

“It was a great place to take my younger kids where they could wander around, look at the toy section and all of the kid furniture, and get interesting snacks,” he said.

Like Vaile, Dallas-area resident Cindy Hallo Reasor also recalls her first IKEA trip being to the Frisco location.

“I think the whole maze aspect is pretty fun the first few times you go, and you see all of the inventory and the tiny little apartments set up with all of their stuff, but there is no short trip to IKEA,” she said. “Good luck with those ‘shortcuts.’”

IKEA stores are generally set up in fixed-path layouts, long and winding from one section to the next until shoppers finally reach the final destination: the checkout area. The design was intended to resemble a walk-through catalog, though it can cause exhaustion and frustrations for some customers. However, when the store attempted to change the layout a few years ago in select stores, loyal IKEA voyagers expressed the desire for the return of the original layout.

More recently, Dallas-area resident Juliette Vielhauer also ventured to the Frisco location with her boyfriend, NatNews IT Department/CIO Josh Odegard. Like many individuals who enter the massive facility for the first time, Vielhauer felt a bit overwhelmed by the layout and endless products before her.

“My first trip to IKEA felt a bit like being dropped into a maze I didn’t agree to enter,” she said. “I’m not a big in-store shopper to begin with—I’ll go out of my way to avoid it (grocery delivery, curbside pickup, you name it). So walking into IKEA, with its winding layout and endless rooms, was a lot. It’s impressive, sure, but also slightly chaotic if you’re not mentally prepared. I kept it simple, grabbed a couple of bowls, and made a very intentional exit.”

While Vielhauer is by no means completely anti-IKEA, one should not expect to bump into her there anytime soon (or likely ever).

“Will I go back inside IKEA? Probably not, unless absolutely necessary,” she said. “Will I order something online and swing by to pick it up? Much more likely. I respect the concept—I just prefer to experience it from a safe distance.”

Hallo Reasor said she shopped at IKEA more in the past, acknowledging that she believes many of its items are well-made and that her first apartments were filled with products from the store. Currently, however, she considers certain factors to determine whether or not she is willing to venture to the blue and yellow building.

“I’m more into the fun kitchen items now, but I have to weigh if the whole ordeal of getting into the store (parking, starting the maze, figuring out all of the shortcuts, etc.) is worth the price of whatever I’m getting,” she said. “Right now, it’s a no.”

Vaile said he has shopped at IKEA quite a bit, noting that he typically purchases furniture items that are more “disposable.”

“The quality isn’t bad—it’s just not things that you’ll be passing down to the next generation,” he said. “It’s good for kid furniture that might get torn up or a temporary piece to fill in space.”

One appealing aspect of the store, Vaile noted, is the cheaper prices it offers its customers, as compared to other furniture retail options.

“Furniture has gotten so expensive,” he said. “You don’t want to fill your child’s room or college dorm room with thousands of dollars worth of solid wood heirloom pieces. You don’t feel bad tossing a $30 recyclable bookcase in the landfill when it’s run its lifespan.”

In addition to the cost aspect, Hallo Reasor said there are several factors that cause individuals to be drawn to IKEA and its unique offerings.

“I think Scandinavian design has always been kind of popular,” she said. “Minimalistic, functional, well-priced items are always going to pull people in. And things that didn’t start up around here (In-N-Out, Uniqlo, Pop Mart, etc.) have always gone through a popular phase. Plus there’s a food court—you’ve got to eat something after you’ve been wandering around for two hours.”

IKEA is continuing to expand, and earlier this month, a new smaller-format two-level store opened at The Shops at Park Lane in Dallas. In the DFW metroplex, a location in Rockwall is also set to open soon.

“From what I’ve heard from friends and die-hard IKEA fans, it checks a lot of boxes: affordable modern furniture, a showroom that helps you picture your space coming together, and an experience people somehow turn into a full-on outing,” Vielhauer said. “And, yes, the Swedish meatballs come up in almost every conversation, so clearly they’re part of the appeal.”

However, Vielhauer said those selling points are not enough to win her over.

“I’m not looking to spend hours wandering through a store or making a day out of furniture shopping,” she said. “But I can definitely see why other people love it—it’s just not quite my version of a good time.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff and dear readers recently celebrated four years of all of the news you never knew you needed

Upcoming
Events

Monday, March 23: Mavs vs. Warriors at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, March 24: Stars vs. Devils at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — Wicked for Good at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, March 25: Puscifer at Music Hall at Fair Park
Thursday, March 26: Disney on Ice — Jump in! at the American Airlines Center (multiple shows through Sunday)
Friday, March 27: An Eggscellent Time in the Park at Prather Park; Bad Bunny vs. J Balvin Silent Disco at Klyde Warren Park
Saturday, March 28: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; McKinney Historic Half at McKinney City Hall; Big Climb Dallas at Bank of America Plaza; Easter Egg Hunt at the Dallas Arboretum (also on Sunday); Friendship Mixer — Friendship without the Fuss at Golden Blk Candle Lounge; Serve & Social at Operation Kindness Humane Society
Sunday, March 29: Candlelight — Tribute to Bad Bunny at Irving Arts Center; Take Care, Sis — Meditation, Mindset, and Mindfulness at Our Wellness Community; The Sleeping Beauty by International Ballet Stars at Music Hall at Fair Park; Women’s Health Empowerment Workshop at Bloom Integrative Wellness Center

NatNews: Issue 209

Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:59:27 +0100

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March 16, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 209

MOVEMENT + MOBILITY TO HELP REDUCE TIGHTNESS

Kids who play youth soccer typically don’t seem to experience much pain or tightness and are simply able to go about their daily lives after their games with mini Gatorades or juice boxes in hand.

A few decades later, and everything changes.

One study found that 75 percent of elite distance runners experience musculoskeletal pain of some sort (usually in their legs, obviously) as a result of their chosen fitness activity. Though not everyone is considered an elite athlete, it is certainly not uncommon for common folk to endure similar pains as a result of running or participating in other sports. But ongoing tightness doesn’t mean one needs to stop an activity—it simply means additional measures might need to be taken.

Dallas resident Drew Mbiam, an avid and competitive runner who recently ran a 17:24 at the St. Paddy’s Day Dash 5K, said he experiences frequent tightness in his hip flexors.

“It reduces mobility and the ability to open my stride up when running,” he said.

Thankfully, Mbiam said there is a solution he has found, as he understands the importance of strength training to help minimize and overcome such a tightness issue.

“They’re tight because they’re weak and the body is trying to protect itself,” he said. “So, steps include strengthening, stretching, and mobilizing.”

Mbiam added that building more strength is also a sustainable method of preventing similar tightness from occurring in the future.

“It’s important to be more proactive with movement and mobility,” he said. “Use it to find weakness, and then strengthen it accordingly.”

According to Dallas-area Doctor of Chiropractor Ismael Gonzalez, Mbiam is certainly on the right path. Gonzalez has treated a variety of athletes—including elite professionals in the NFL, NBA, FIFA, and USA Taekwondo—and specializes in functional movement, sports injury rehab, and full-body wellness. He said athletes who experience frequent or chronic tightness are often missing consistent strength and mobility programs in their regular routines.

“These areas are commonly overlooked during training, regardless of the sport,” he said. “Runners, in particular, tend to focus on getting their miles in and sometimes neglect the additional strength and mobility work that helps keep the body healthy and resilient.”

Gonzalez said individuals who include working out as part of their normal lifestyles and struggle with chronic tightness can overcome such an issue by incorporating consistent strength training, mobility work, and proper recovery into their routines.

“Strength training helps build muscle and tendon resilience so that the body can better handle the physical demands of sport,” he said. “Mobility work improves joint range of motion and movement quality, which reduces unnecessary strain on muscles that often leads to tightness.”

Gonzalez added that it is also equally important for individuals to prepare their bodies with proper warmups prior to the activities in which they are participating. He also advises maintaining consistency with such habits on a regular basis, not only when pain or tightness occurs.

“When athletes prioritize these supportive components alongside their sport-specific training, they improve durability, reduce chronic tightness, and perform more efficiently,” he said.

Gonzalez, who recently spent time providing care to professional football hopefuls at the 2026 NFL Combine in Indianapolis, said he routinely helps athletes work through tightness by identifying the root causes of the issues, rather than simply treating the symptoms.

“Through movement assessments, I look for mobility restrictions, weaknesses, or imbalances that may be contributing to the issue,” he said. “Treatment may include soft-tissue work, mobility exercises, and targeted strengthening to restore proper movement. The goal is to help athletes move more efficiently, reduce recurring tightness, and perform at their full capacities.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Hummingbirds are the only birds that are able to fly backward (because they have a unique ball-and-socket shoulder joint allowing for 180-degree wing rotation).

IS CHOREMANCING A GAME-CHANGING DATE IDEA?

More recently, some individuals trying to find their lobsters in the dating scene have been bucking the idea of what might have previously been considered more traditional dates and, instead, deciding to be productive while determining if potential partners are compatible.

Known as “choremancing,” this new trend promotes accomplishing tasks such as grocery shopping together to learn more about one another while also ensuring that certain necessary adult responsibilities are achieved.

Dallas resident Damon Yousefy said he believes that completing chores together has potential to be a quality date, depending on what the chores are.

“To me, a date is meant to be relaxing,” he said, “so I would not recommend the chore of yard work, but I would recommend chores like cooking together and doing the cleanup together, accompanied by good music in the kitchen. It can always be a dance party with your partner.”

While household chores might be a newer trending date activity for couples still getting to know one another, running errands together is a more familiar concept to Yousefy and one that can prove to be rather enjoyable.

“Having someone to go to the grocery store or farmer’s market with can make a tedious task fun,” he said. “I also like the idea of making mall returns together and walking around a mall like NorthPark and getting food together since it combines necessary tasks with air-conditioned walking and many food options in addition to shopping.”

Dallas-area resident Alexis Derrow is also a strong proponent of the errands date. She said while she thinks that other chore dates might be a good idea, she would prefer to run errands together rather than tackle at-home chores on the to-do list. She suggested such an activity for the fourth date, though it could possibly be ideal for the third date.

“I think it helps you decide if you like the person or the fun stuff you’ve been doing on previous dates,” she said. “Errands force you to evaluate someone on their merits.”

Thanks to social media platforms like TikTok, the concept of choremancing has grown. In fact, a recent survey by dating service Arrows revealed that nearly half of the 1,000 singles who participated in the survey (which included Gen Xers, millennials, and Gen Zers) indicated that they prefer choremancing over traditional dates.

Derrow said she did not realize that chore dates had become somewhat common in today’s dating scene, though it makes sense to her, as she has been incorporating errand dates for quite some time now.

“I get the appeal,” she said. “Your time is valuable, so why spend leisure time with someone who isn’t a sure thing?”

Dallas resident Morgan Fritz said she had not previously considered chores as a date option but is likely to add it to her future date activities, as doing so not only helps a person get to know a potential partner but also allows the individual to achieve necessary tasks.

“After really thinking about it, I think doing chores together is a great date idea,” she said. “To end your date and have crossed things off your to-do list is a win-win. It’s not like you’re ending your date and coming back to your list of things to do.”

Dating can be filled with frustrations, and the aforementioned Arrow survey found that 43 percent of single Americans feel burned out by dating—which is one reason Fritz thinks that what was once considered traditional is no longer necessarily the standard for many individuals, particularly those trying to navigate the current dating scene.

“I think the dating world is so all over the place right now that chore dates feel like a breath of fresh air,” she said. “Just kidding (kind of). But I think as a society, we are becoming more accepting (broadly) and now allow different kinds of dates.”

And though she might try a chore rendezvous sometime soon, Fritz said her ideal date is on the fancier side.

“I love dressing up,” she said. “But I think that there is a time and a place for chore dates and even ‘get stuff done’ dates, when you cross off random tasks that have been on your to-do list but aren’t urgent (canceling a subscription, etc.). Maybe ‘life admin dates’ would be a better title.”

Yousefy also said he doesn’t classify knocking off chores as an ideal date, as such an evening for him entails being out of the house and making two stops, both within walking distance of one another

“Dinner in Bishop Arts followed by a jazz show at Reveler’s Hall or dinner in Lower Greenville followed by gelato on a patio makes for a great evening,” he said.

Dates certainly don’t need to be extensive or expensive, especially when they do involve a little bit of choremancing. Derrow said she appreciates conventional dates but also truly enjoys dates that involve errands, church, and volunteering.

“I had a great date recently in which we both got dressed up, he picked me up at 4, we ran errands, had dinner at 5, and were home by 8,” she said. “Magical.”

And for Derrow, the most important components of successful relationships are quite simple.

“Shared values and actually liking to hang out with them,” she said.

Yousefy said the essential aspects he seeks in a relationship are communication and a willingness to compromise.

“Talking openly about date ideas or other aspects of the relationship and being willing to try new things can lead to memorable experiences and new interests that we may not even know we had—like listening to live jazz, enjoying art shows, or trying a new type of food,” he said.

To Fritz, the most important part of a relationship is being able to feel comfortable as she is and not feeling like she has to perform in any way. She noted that a close second is compatibility, followed by similar morals and goals.

“But really, I think if you feel like your most natural and truest self, then compatibility as well as morals and goals will likely align,” she said. “So instead of asking “do I like him?” or “does he like me?” I think the better question is “how do I feel when I’m around him?”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Fact: Dear reader Laura Hays is the best Pilates instructor

Upcoming
Events

Monday, March 16: Stars vs. Mammoth at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, March 17: Couples Cook — An Irish Dinner for St. Patrick’s Day at Central Market; 6th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Pub Party at Harwood Arms; Free Rooftop Movie — Leprechaun Back 2 the Hood at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, March 18: Mavs vs. Hawks at the American Airlines Center; Pilates in the Park at Park Bishop
Thursday, March 19: Bad Omens at the American Airlines Center; Candlelight — The Lord of the Rings at Edison’s; Shania Twain Tribute — Shania Twang at Legacy Hall
Friday, March 20: Late Night at the Museum at the Dallas Museum of Art
Saturday, March 21: NatNews FOUR-YEAR ANNIVERSARY PARTY; WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Mavs vs. Clippers at the American Airlines Center; 4th Annual Selena Fest at Harwood Park; Celebrate Women — A Panel of Empowering Voices at Nebraska Furniture Mart
Sunday, March 22: Stars vs. Golden Knights at the American Airlines Center; Dallas Soul Food Festival at Lofty Spaces

NatNews: Issue 208

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 11:59:24 +0100

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March 9, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 208

SOMETIMES A SOCIAL MEDIA BREAK CAN PROVIDE A BREATH OF FRESH AIR

Recent data revealed that there are more than 5.6 billion social media “user identities” (which doesn’t mean unique individuals) across the globe, with 93.8 percent of the world’s internet users, regardless of age, using social media on a regular basis.

With so many people active on multiple platforms, constant exposure to images, opinions, and other content can often feel overwhelming. It’s not uncommon for individuals to need to take some time away from social media, and doing so can also be beneficial for one’s mental health, resulting in a decrease in stress, anxiety, depression, and self-criticism.

Dallas-area resident Maddy Pond said she recently decided to take a break from social media for a brief stint of time.

“I took a week off because I had it as a goal to complete in 2026, and I felt like a week was doable with me never having done it before,” she said.

For Pond, it was a necessary escape to allow her to reset her mind for a bit and not let it be consumed with content she felt was creating a sense of negativity.

“At the time, I was noticing myself spending so much time looking at Instagram and seeing stuff that made me feel bad (my algorithm got into the Epstein file stuff—ugh),” she said.

And sometimes the behind-the-screen reactions and comments of others can cause individuals to take breaks from Instagram, Facebook, Twitter (X), TikTok, etc. that they might not have otherwise opted to take. Dallas-area resident Megan England, who is the official fashion correspondent of NatNews, stepped away from her online socials a few years ago after a post she made resulted in unexpected backlash.

“The only time I have taken a break from social media was when I got doxxed online for an LGBTQ+ ally post on my personal private Facebook page,” she said. “I am a teacher and was called a groomer and a pedophile. My school address and home address were shared, and my front door was egged. Commenters called for my arrest, lynching, and other violence against me.”

But England said she did not let such reactions cause her to go into permanent social media hiding and ended up only staying offline for approximately 10 days.

“The doxxing coincided with an ice storm, so I had been out of school and hadn’t seen my students,” she said. “When I returned to school, the kids and my coworkers rallied behind me with love and support. I decided then to embrace what happened and let ‘them’ know they can’t silence me.”

Rather than taking complete breaks from social media, some individuals, including Dallas resident Craig Borkenhagen, prefer to ration the amount of time they spend on it on a daily or weekly basis.

“I’ve severely limited my time on social media because it offers so little value to my day-to-day life,” Borkenhagen said. “I realized I was wasting so much time watching reels and shorts and just ‘doom-scrolling.’ And on top of that, I realized I was doing that to avoid dealing with life—all of the emotions and difficulties that come and go.”

To ensure that he doesn’t spend more time than he wants or needs on socials, Borkenhagen has employed certain methods that help him in this regard.

“I’ve blocked Instagram totally on my phone, so my only access is on a computer,” he said. “And for Facebook, I don’t have the app—I only use the browser and have a 10-minute time limit per day.”

Since doing so, Borkenhagen said he has noticed certain benefits that have ensued.

“The biggest changes are giving more time to the things that add value to my day and make me a better person physically, mentally, and spiritually,” he said. “Thirty minutes reading a book is time better spent than 30 minutes watching those dang reels.”

Like Borkenhagen, Pond said she also noticed the minutes (and maybe even hours) dedicated to other portions of her life when she wasn’t spending them on social media.

“I felt like I had so much more time in my day and wasn’t focused on checking in to see who posted what and when,” she said. “It was also nice to feel disconnected in a way that I could have more meaningful conversations and check-ins with friends through texting or calling.”

Pond said her experience made her realize how beneficial it can be to take a social media break every once in a while or limit time spent on it.

“I honestly could have kept doing it or might do it once every couple of months,” she said. “I think it’s so easy to get sucked into technology, and it’s a breath of fresh air when taking a break.”

Borkenhagen said he also believes that it’s important for an individual to limit his or her time on social media, especially when one has an addictive personality, which Borkenhagen said he does.

“I latch onto things, including social media, and have a hard time letting go,” he said. “So I have to go to great lengths to course correct. There are so many better things to do with our time than spend it on social media. It also gives me more time to spend being a better friend to the people in my life.”

While online content and commentary can certainly drain an individual’s time and emotions sometimes, such platforms don’t always have negative impacts. England said for her personally, she has come to realize simply how powerful any social media presence can be—especially the positive kind.

“As a teacher, I keep in touch with my students,” she said. “I love seeing their growth and celebrating their victories with them. I also know it takes a lot to be vulnerable online, so I make sure to give them the same encouragement I would if they were still 17 and sitting in my classroom.”

And though England isn’t going to let other people control whether or not she maintains an online presence, she does acknowledge that too much time on social media can be harmful.

“Algorithms create echo chambers of ads and news,” she said. “You begin to think your way is the only way because that’s what is constantly being reinforced. We all need to touch some grass.”

DID YOU KNOW?

New Jersey is the only U.S. state that doesn’t allow customers to pump their own gas.

POPULAR GREENVILLE AVENUE ANNUAL EVENT CONTINUES TO PARTY ON

What began as a rather small neighborhood parade with a few vehicles in 1979 has become a much more extensive celebration. This Saturday marks the 45th annual Dallas St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival, an event that in recent years has drawn more than 120,000 individuals lining Greenville Avenue.

The day-long festivities include the St. Paddy’s Day Dash 5K at 8 a.m., followed by the parade at 11 a.m. and music festival at 12 p.m.

But this yearly celebration has seen its fair share of struggle, including in 2012 when funding became an issue. Rather than let it slip away, Dallas resident and well-known entrepreneur Mark Cuban saved the parade that year when he donated the $40,000 needed to cover the cost of additional police, barricades, floats, and trash pickup as well as an additional $25,000 for the Dallas Independent School District scholarship fund, which is normally raised through parade revenues. For Cuban, it was important to keep this annual Dallas tradition alive.

“Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, I had too much fun going to the parade,” he said. “I didn’t want to see it die.”

The event not only allows residents and visitors to come together for a shared experience but is also beneficial revenue-wise for several local restaurants and bars along Greenville, both of which are significant aspects of the St. Patrick’s Parade and Festival in Cuban’s viewpoint.

“It’s the only parade in the city where anyone of any age can go and have a great time,” he said. “Plus, it’s great for the economy.”

Dallas-area resident Rob Ostrout, race director at Run Project, said he believes that there are a variety of aspects that contribute to this annual occasion drawing in so many individuals year after year.

“I think it hits a sweet spot that not a lot of events can,” he said. “You’ve got the physical activity side of it—a legitimate race that runners take seriously—but it’s wrapped in this big, celebratory, only-in-Dallas energy. St. Patrick’s Day is already a holiday people want to be out for, and Greenville Avenue gives it a home with real character.”

Ostrout said it also doesn’t hurt that Dallas has a massive running community filled with individuals who are always looking for reasons to lace up their racing shoes.

“Combine that with great weather in mid-March, cold beer at the finish line, and a street party that goes all day, and it kind of sells itself,” he said.

As the race director of the St. Paddy’s Day Dash 5K, Ostrout said he is responsible for ensuring that everything runs smoothly—quite literally—from start to finish. He coordinates the logistics of the race (the course, timing, volunteer coordination, safety protocols, etc.), but he said the role entails much more than the race itself.

“I’m working closely with the city, vendors, sponsors, and neighborhood to make sure that the whole experience comes together,” he said. “People show up to have fun, and my job, along with our amazing team, is to make sure that nothing gets in the way of that.”

And while putting on a race of such magnitude that coincides with the ensuing festivities involves a significant amount of planning and day-of execution, Ostrout said he truly enjoys participating in the day’s events and playing a part in helping make it a special celebration for those in attendance.

“There’s this moment every year—right when the gun goes off and you’ve got thousands of people in green pouring down Greenville Avenue—when all of the months of planning just click,” he said. “It’s hard not to feel something in that moment. What I love most is that this event brings out people who may not run another race all year. It’s accessible, festive, and communal. Knowing that we’re creating a memory for someone’s first 5K or a yearly tradition for a group of friends means a lot to me personally and to our team.”

While many individuals continue to show up each year, there are some people, including Dallas resident and running coach Alfonzo Gonzalez Jr. (Fonz), who have retired from spending time among the crowds and opt for quieter celebrations of the March holiday. Fonz said he hasn’t participated in the St. Patrick’s events in Dallas since 2019, when he was a part of the Team Cricket running crew.

“Cricket Wireless would encourage the Team Cricket runners to participate in the 5K race, activities, and even parade floats,” he said. “Since then, I usually do a long run during the Greenville festivities. After participating in St. Patrick’s events for many years, I now relax or go somewhere less crowded for a green beer, instead.”

And though he doesn’t line Greenville with the thousands of others in the area, Fonz acknowledges that the entire event remains popular because of the long-standing tradition of the parade, the post-party celebrations at restaurants and bars on Lower Greenville, and the economic boost it provides.

“Overall, the parade attracts numerous visitors from outside of Dallas, which contributes significantly to the local economy by generating millions of dollars in revenue for businesses within the city in a single day,” he said.

Whether taking part in the 5K, watching the parade (which includes more than 90 floats), attending the festival, popping into the various establishments, or a combination of all of those, attendees can enjoy this once-a-year celebration however they choose to do so. As Cuban said, it’s simply a great opportunity for people to come together and have fun.

“It’s become an institution,” he said. “Tons of people look forward to it every year. It’s kind of the start of summer in Dallas. And who doesn’t love a parade?”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

See you next month, Augusta

Upcoming
Events

Monday, March 9: Addison Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 24–35) at Hawkers Asian Street Food
Tuesday, March 10: Stars vs. Golden Knights at the American Airlines Center; Bonsai Bar at Celestial Beerworks; Free Rooftop Movie — White Chicks at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, March 11: Corb Lund at the Kessler; Whose Live Anyway at the Majestic Theatre
Thursday, March 12: Stars vs. Oilers at the American Airlines Center; Matchbox Twenty Tribute — Matchbook 20 at Legacy Hall
Friday, March 13: Mavs vs. Cavs at the American Airlines Center; Connor King at Dallas Comedy Club (also on Saturday); Java House Grand Prix of Arlington in the Arlington Entertainment District (goes through Sunday); Candlelight — Tribute to Fleetwood Mac at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas
Saturday, March 14: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; St. Paddy’s Day Dash 5K at Energy Square on Greenville Avenue; 2026 Dallas St. Patrick’s Parade & Festival on Greenville Avenue; Live 90 at Legacy Hall
Sunday, March 15: Stars vs. Red Wings at the American Airlines Center

NatNews: Issue 207

Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:59:27 +0100

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March 9, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 208

TITLE

It is not uncommon to see other drivers on the road having their own private car concerts as they make their way to whatever their destinations may be. An enclosed vehicle can create a safe space and allow you to (please sing this like Natasha Bedingfield) release your inhibitions.

Dallas-area resident Josh Odegard said he prefers not to be in situations with silence, especially when he is in his car, so he has the radio on and turned up whenever he is driving anywhere. Most of the time, he is letting his voice be heard (by himself) alongside the musical artists.

“I almost always have it on 107.9 Latino Mix DFW, which is all in Spanish,” he said. “I don’t know the words to most of the songs, but if I do, I’m singing along. And during commercials, I’ll change it to one of the English stations so that I have something else to sing along to.”

When individuals hear singing, their mirror neurons activate similar motor networks in their brains, triggering them to engage their own vocal cords and sing along. This is likely a key reason why Connecticut resident Alicia Wyatt sings out loud while she is driving anytime a song she knows is playing.

“I love singing along to songs in the car,” she said. “It gets me excited when I’m on the way to places, or it can help wake me up when I’m still a bit groggy from starting my day.”

Similarly, Dallas resident Liz Orozco, a school counselor with three kids of her own, said she and her kids sing in the car together all of the time.

“It’s decompressing and stress-relieving,” she said.

And to Orozco, the level of talent has no impact on how loudly or passionately they belt the tunes they know.

“I know I’m not a good singer, but I’m in the car with my kids, so it’s fine to be silly and laugh about it,” she said. “When you are in a safe space like your car, you are free from judgment.”

Studies have shown that singing out loud can stimulate one’s mind and improve brain chemistry, alleviate stress, release oxytocin (a “feel good” hormone), reduce road rage, and even help a person deal with unprocessed emotions.

Odegard said singing along with songs will not necessarily help him work through issues he is facing in life or create much of a significant change, but doing so in the safe and secluded space of his car can still help him at times when he needs it.

“Music is one of my favorite things in life, and being able to sing alone makes me feel like I’m more a part of it,” he said. “I don’t think music is usually a therapy for me, but if I’m in a bad mood and have a chance to belt out a really long verse from a classic gangsta rap song, I’m usually feeling a little better by the end.”

Odegard said he doesn’t like the sound of his voice when he sings, so he typically only does so when he is by himself or with his girlfriend, whether he’s in his car or elsewhere.

“I know that I don’t sing very well, and I’m a little self-conscious about it, so I don’t usually sing around other people, unless it’s someone I know really well,” he said. “Or if I’ve been drinking—alcohol makes me sing better for sure.”

Wyatt, on the other hand, finds that releasing one’s inhibitions through singing can certainly be an effective form of therapy for an individual.

“I think it can be a great tool to help someone relax on the way home from work or during their commute and decompress from the day before switching gears to evening mode with family, friends, and other obligations,” she said. “Or it can be a great way to cheer up after a stressful time.”

People process emotions and find relief from anxiety and stress in different ways, and places like a car create safe spaces for them to do so without feeling like they are being watched. Even if the windows aren’t tinted and allow a person to be seen, there is still a sense of autonomy and aloneness when an individual is riding solo in a vehicle.

“When we are in our cars, we feel like we are in an encapsulated bubble—no audience to judge us,” Wyatt said. “It allows for that freedom of expression to help us decompress without being judged for our talent (or lack of talent). Music is such a balm to the soul, and I think feeling like we can sing along in the car without anyone judging us brings another level of peace and enjoyment.”

DID YOU KNOW?

INFO.

TITLE

Every once in a while, depending on where you are, you might look up in the sky and see a human soaring through the air beneath a parachute structure whose fabric canopy serves as his or her wings. What you are witnessing is paragliding (not to be confused with hang gliding), which began to grow in popularity in the 1970s when French parachutists Andre Bohn and Gerard Bosson discovered the possibility of launching from mountains rather than planes.

One might wonder how paragliders stay in the air (and often do so for hours at a time). They are able to stay aloft by employing design and piloting techniques that harness air currents. The canopy wing is made of fabric cells with openings that inflate as the individual glides through the air, creating a “ram-air” effect.

Paragliders control their devices by adjusting lines attached to the wing’s trailing edge to turn or to increase or decrease speed. In order to initially launch into the air, the pilot inflates the wing and then runs down a hill until flying speed is reached. To gain altitude and remain in the air, he or she then uses warm rising air known as thermals.

Dallas resident Stephen Sorensen began his paragliding journey a couple of years ago when he was living in Utah in a townhouse right next to a paragliding flight park.

“Every morning when leaving for work, I would always see people out flying at the flight park,” he said. “Watching the paragliders developed a strong yearning within me to take to the skies myself. The next thing I knew, I signed up for a course.”

Sorensen completed his training at Cloud 9 Paragliding and said prior to his initial launch and even during his first couple of times taking part in this new activity, he felt both excitement and fear that he might die doing so.

“I would make little mistakes like not landing correctly because I was not going into the wind or almost getting swept away by a gust while kiting,” he said. “It then started to feel like I was playing Russian roulette, with each additional jump possibly leading to me crashing or something. Finally, toward the end of my course, I started to become more comfortable again and could enjoy the awe of skimming across the edge of the earth’s horizon, being one with the air.”

Sorensen was able to earn his P2 pilot certification, which required him completing more than 40 flights. He said he appreciates that the training process allowed him to push himself outside of his comfort zones.

“It gave me the opportunity to start off my day in the mornings confronting fear, which I feel gave me confidence to face and work on various insecurities in other parts of my life throughout the rest of the day,” he said. “Nature, whether it be the winds of the air or the waves of the sea, is one of the best teachers in life.”

Sorensen said one of the most valuable lessons he gained throughout his paragliding journey was the concept of micro corrections.

“In paragliding, the wind always has some degree of variability, which requires you to constantly counterbalance,” he said. “However, if you overcorrect, you will only amplify the instability, which can send you oscillating out of control. It is paramount that you make micro corrections that are proportional in strength to the opposition you face.”

Sorensen added that he believes that the majority of the hardships people face in life are the result of individuals’ overreactions to external challenges rather than the actual external challenges themselves.

“Developing mastery in life is knowing how to make the necessary course corrections without overbearance when we make mistakes,” he said.

Sorensen said he is grateful for his experiences in paragliding and would advise individuals who want to try their own new adventures but are fearful and/or anxious about doing so simply to visualize success to combat those feelings that could be holding them back.

“Whenever you feel anxious, just close your eyes and imagine what it will be like when you achieve what you set out to achieve,” he said. “Let vision and desire for greatness fuel your drive, and let it overcome your fears.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

New album dropping soon, obviously

Upcoming
Events

Monday, March 2: Read Across America Day
Tuesday, March 3: Nine Inch Nails at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — Little Man at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, March 4: West Texas Exiles and J Isaiah Evans & the Boss Tweed at The Kessler
Thursday, March 5: Jaci Terjeson at Dallas Comedy Club
Friday, March 6: Stars vs. Avalanche at the American Airlines Center; The Flashback — Best of 90s and 2000s R&B and Hip Hop at Legacy Hall
Saturday, March 7: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; First Free Saturdays at the Nasher Sculpture Center; Candlelight — Tribute to Taylor Swift at The Joule; John Michael Howell at House of Blues Dallas; Cardi B at the American Airlines Center
Sunday, March 8: Stars vs. Blackhawks at the American Airlines Center; Candlelight — The Best of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole at Irving Arts Center

NatNews: Issue 206

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 12:59:26 +0100

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February 23, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 206

AIR FRYERS—SAVING TIME AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Every once in a while, a device comes along that revolutionizes the lives of a number of people throughout the world.

Enter the air fryer.

Dutch engineer Fred van der Weij invented the air fryer in 2006, and the popular kitchen appliance was introduced to the public in 2010. Since then, it has become a common way for individuals and families to enjoy meals without having to dedicate as much time in the kitchen as they might with the use of a traditional oven.

According to a recent NatNews survey, 50 percent of respondents said they cook with the use of an air fryer quite often, 25 percent said they do sometimes, 17 percent said they never do so, and 8 percent indicated that they don’t cook at all.

One of those frequent users is Dallas-area resident David Recker, who said he and his fiancée, Olivia, have had an air fryer since Christmas and use it two to three times per week. He said they appreciate the efficiency it provides them.

“I would say we use the ‘roast’ feature more often than ‘air fry,’ and it saves a lot of time, especially considering the time to preheat a traditional oven,” he said. “We always have to google the cooking times for things, but you literally just pop them in and hit a button. Cleanup is also super easy—we bought silicone baskets that are dishwasher-safe that we just pull out afterward, rinse off, and wash.”

And for those who don’t have the time or desire to use an oven or don’t love the quality of leftovers fresh out of the microwave, the air fryer is a more suitable option.

“I use it to cook things occasionally, but I mostly use it to reheat things,” Southern California resident Hannah Chapman said. “It’s way better than the microwave. It’s more efficient in terms of time and cleanup (if you have the little liners).”

And it’s that efficiency that many individuals truly appreciate. Tara Janke, a resident of Hawaii’s Big Island, said she is more of a crock pot gal but uses an air fryer a couple of times a month, as she believes that it is best for allowing her to be more productive in other areas of her life by saving time in the kitchen.

“You can cook food a lot more quickly than you can in an oven,” she said. “You can also cook frozen meat, which really saves a lot of time, especially in a pinch for dinner. If you like crispy meat and veggies, the air fryer is also a great tool for that.”

To add to the time-saving capabilities air fryers provide, owners of the kitchen appliance can find benefit from the fact that they also result in cleaner air quality than when using other common cooking appliances. A recent study conducted by researchers at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom discovered that air fryers emit 10 to 100 times fewer volatile organic compounds (VOCs) than traditional deep-fat frying methods.

Some individuals, including Chapman, also notice an increase in quality to their meals when using the air fryer.

“The food tastes way better and crispy,” she said.

Janke, on the other hand, said she does not believe that the food is much different. However, the advantages the device does offer are worth the use of it from time to time.

“Honestly, I don’t see any added benefit to quality and taste by using an air fryer,” she said. “It’s all about time and ease for me.”

Like Janke, Recker said he thinks the overall food quality and taste are rather comparable to those of traditional ovens, but he has noticed that the use of the air fryer has changed his and Olivia’s vegetable intake.

“Neither of us is particularly fond of raw vegetables, and the air fryer makes it much simpler to season and roast a variety of vegetables, so we eat them more frequently,” he said. “We’ve also been using it more versus takeout, so our weekly food costs have gone down.”

DID YOU KNOW?

There are currently 88 constellations officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union.

PERHAPS A RESURGENCE OF NOSTALGIC COMPUTER GAMES IS IN ORDER

If you were not born in a year with a 2 in front of it (we’re looking at you, millennials, Gen Xers, and baby boomers), you might remember playing games on the computer at school and perhaps even at home that carried educational value and also potentially caused you some lasting trauma (hello, diphtheria on the Oregon Trail).

Other such nostalgic computer-based entertainment included Number Crunchers, Minesweeper, Age of Empires, The Sims, and (fitting for the Winter Olympics that recently concluded) SkiFree.

Many of these games were already loaded onto school computers for students to play during free time or before the learning day began, or they could be installed onto home computers for kids to enjoy outside of the classroom setting. Dallas resident Jenny Schultz said she enjoyed playing Oregon Trail at school and Amazon Trail while she was at home.

“I loved both of these games because they were not difficult and were a nice way to turn off my brain from more complicated tasks,” she said.

She was not alone in finding fun in such games on the computer, which often looked like those found in this Instagram post. Dallas resident Nathaniel Medrano said when he was a young kid, he typically arrived early to school to secure a spot in the computer lab to play games before the first bell rang to begin the school day. He preferred engaging in three specific games: Oregon Trail, Sim City, and Sim Ant.

“Oregon Trail was fun because no matter how many times you’d try, something would always go wrong, and it kept you wanting to come back in hopes that you’d finally make it through the game,” he said. “Needless to say, I never did, but I’ll never forget the true history of the Oregon Trail and its many dangers. It’s funny how it taught you, even though you didn’t realize you were being taught. Sim City and Sim Ant were both simulation games that involved building cities and colonies. I’ve always been addicted to that style of game because it allows you to be creative and problem solve.”

In his teen years, however, Medrano said he became more drawn to first-person shooter (FPS) games and role-playing games (RPG) when he sat down in front of the screen.

“I liked FPS for the fast-paced competitive nation of it and RPG for the storyline and character development,” he said.

There were also several games that stemmed from movies and television shows. Dane Sebring—who lives in Washington, D.C., and was one of the founding members of the infamous Broken Crayons media group in Coppell, Texas—found that playing certain video games helped him further establish bonds he had formed with his peers.

“I’m sure, like with most of your readers, Goldeneye is probably the most memorable,” he said. “There was definitely something special about staying up all night playing split-screen 007 with your friends.”

In fact, Sebring is such a fan of a game that shaped his younger years that he believes its relevance is not lost.

“Despite the aging graphics, I think this game would still be wildly popular with today’s youth,” he said. “No internet is required, and no bluetooth is needed.”

Like Sebring, Schultz also believes that the younger generations would find enjoyment in the games she enjoyed when she was growing up.

“Oregon Trail is so nostalgic, and Amazon Trail is fun because it included puzzles and side quests,” she said.

However, there are certainly different generational preferences, especially as technology and society continue to evolve. Medrano said he does not believe that kids and teenagers in today’s world would enjoy playing the games he did when he was in their stages of life.

“I think today’s youth wants faster-paced games, and sadly, those were not fast-paced,” he said. “Case in point is how popular games like Fortnite are with young kids.”

Medrano doesn’t necessarily think that is a negative reality, though. In fact, he said he thinks games today are more beneficial for the younger generations than the computer games he used to play.

“Gaming technology has advanced so much that, simply by playing, you can learn many valuable skills, such as problem solving, critical thinking, reaction speeds, motor functions, social skills (with online games), exercise, creativity, imagination, etc.,” he said.

While mastery of such competencies can prove to be beneficial in a variety of areas of life, Sebring said he believes that there is a particular aspect of games today that provide a disadvantage compared to computer games of yore.

“The issue with video games now is that most of them can’t function without internet access,” he said. “They use that connection against you to force mandatory updates or sell downloadable content.”

Schultz also believes that past computer games top current ones overall, though her reason has more to do with resilience and creating room for a peaceful and calming environment.

“I think the games I played are more beneficial because they are less stimulating and allow for relaxing fun,” she said. “Even if you get attacked by a bear, you just start over.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

We hope that you will join us for the NatNews four-year anniversary party on Saturday, March 21

Upcoming
Events

Monday, February 23: National Banana Bread Day
Tuesday, February 24: Free Rooftop Movie — The Notebook at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, February 25: Stars vs. Kraken at the American Airlines Center; Jason Hatch at The Rustic
Thursday, February 26: Mavs vs. Kings at the American Airlines Center; Dallas Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 27–38) at Dave & Buster’s Dallas
Friday, February 27: ‘80s Tribute — ‘80s Mix Tape at Legacy Hall; Zak Toscani at Dallas Comedy Club (also on Saturday); Mavs vs. Grizzlies at the American Airlines Center
Saturday, February 28: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Stars vs. Predators at the American Airlines Center; Dallas Trinity FC vs. Houston Dash at Cotton Bowl Stadium; Black History Month SESSION Pilates Mat Class at The Eye at The Joule
Sunday, March 1: Mavs vs. Thunder at the American Airlines Center; PicklePaw Classic at Chicken N Pickle Grapevine; Candlelight — Tribute to Taylor Swift at Frontiers of Flight Museum

NatNews: Issue 205

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:59:27 +0100

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February 16, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 205

WARM FEET BEFORE BEDTIME MIGHT ACTUALLY HELP YOU SLEEP BETTER

There are plenty of controversial topics in this world, and the idea of wearing socks while sleeping is no exception. Recent NatNews investigative research found that 9 percent of respondents of an online poll sleep with socks on always or most of the time, 17 percent sometimes wear socks in bed, 52 percent opt never to do so, and 22 percent claim that the sock-wearing choice is contingent upon the weather and/or season.

Dallas-area resident Amanda Storer is one of the individuals who does not want her feet covered when she hops into her sheets at night.

“No, absolutely not,” she said. “I get too hot. Hard pass on socks for sleeping.”

The ice and freezing temperatures, such as those experienced at the end of last month throughout the Dallas area (and many parts of the U.S.) can change the sleeping-in-socks opinions of some people, including Dallas resident Elizabeth Cruz. She said she sometimes sleeps in socks in the colder months, but once those temperatures rise, she doesn’t even think about putting anything on her feet at night.

“I think it’s just liking to feel extra warm and cozy in the winter versus during the summer feeling perpetually hot,” she said.

Cruz said she can generally fall asleep within minutes of her head hitting the pillow, and while she might not wake up in the middle of the night if she mistakenly gets in bed with socks on her feet, it is likely that she will discover some shedding of articles of clothing for the feet in the morning.

“More than once, I have accidentally fallen asleep with socks on and woken up without socks if I’ve gotten hot,” she said.

Like Cruz, the question of whether or not socks should be on her feet while she’s sleeping is a seasonal situation for Dallas resident Adnaloy Nuñez.

“During those rare freezing Dallas winter days, I use them to keep the chill away and stay cozy,” she said.

Nuñez said it is certainly more challenging for her to sleep well if she is taken out of her comfort zone, including if socks were on her feet in a warm climate, such as where she previously lived in Venezuela.

“Sleeping in a country without reliable A/C makes it almost impossible for me to settle down and find a rhythm,” she said.

There are those individuals, though, who need socks to make it through the night comfortably. Dallas resident Eli Rodriguez said he opts to sleep with socks on his feet because of his aversion to feeling chilled in the slightest and wouldn’t be able to sleep well if he found himself in a situation in which his feet were bare.

“It would take me out of my comfort zone big time,” he said. “I’m always cold, so I always make sure to sleep with the temperature set to at least 71 degrees in my house.”

One study regarding this issue found that, while foot temperature doesn’t have a tremendous impact on one’s overall core body temperature, warming one’s feet prior to sleeping in a cool environment can have positive impacts on sleep quality through the ability to fall asleep more quickly, sleep for a longer time period, and awaken less often throughout the night. This occurs in part because the warming of the feet helps blood flow more easily to the skin, allowing excess heat to escape and the brain to receive the message that it’s time to fall asleep.

Cruz said she has certainly noticed that she needs for her body to be at a pleasant temperature if she is going to find rest more easily.

“If the temperatures don’t feel comfortable, it takes me longer to wind down,” she said.

Of course, there are additional contributing factors that can cause a person to have specific needs in terms of temperatures, including those involving one’s feet at night.

“I’m going through perimenopause right now, so my temp is all jacked up, often waking me up in the middle of the night from being hot,” Storer said. “Sometimes a foot outside of the covers helps, but sometimes I need more.”

And though Nuñez is not in the same life stage as Storer, she often employs similar sleeping techniques, as she said she is a firm believer that people’s body temperatures, including in their feet, can have significant impacts on their sleep cycles.

“Warm feet are essential for me to fall asleep in the winter,” she said. “Conversely, in the summer, I rely on the ‘one foot out’ method to balance my body temperature. It acts like a radiator, helping me cool down and reach deep sleep much faster.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Glitter as we know it today was unintentionally invented in 1934 when New Jersey machinist Henry Ruschmann ground up a load of scrap metals and plastics extremely finely.

HOW ATTITUDES CAN IMPACT THE FLYING EXPERIENCE

If you are not the owner of your own private plane, making it onto your flight can become quite an ordeal, especially if you become stressed or anxious in situations in which you cannot control several external factors.

Dallas resident Grant Harrell, a frequent traveler who said he is on 15 to 20 flights each year, doesn’t think the airport process should be considered stressful, as many procedures have been in place since after September 11, 2001, but he acknowledges that there are certainly frustrations that can arise for travelers, particularly when it comes to wait times.

“I have Clear and Global Entry, which includes TSA Pre-Check,” he said. “Clear basically makes no sense now because they’re taking your picture twice. Lines today in Pre-Check or Clear can be as long as standard entry. In May 2024, I was in Baltimore, and there was a long line with people having their initial pictures taken and then having to show their driver’s licenses. After waiting for my turn, I told the TSA lady she didn’t need my driver’s license. I stood in front of the camera, and within less than a second she said ‘nope, Grant, all good.’ The camera instantly identifies you, so the security is all tied to what you have in your bag.”

Harrell added that the contents of one’s bags can often be the cause of irritation from other travelers.

“It’s crazy what some people show up with thinking they can bring on the plane, which impacts TSA and everyone’s attitude waiting in line,” he said.

Being put in such situations can cause some individuals to feel a range of emotions and even act differently than they typically would. Dallas-area resident and flight attendant Jade Parsons said she believes that traveling can undoubtedly bring out both the best and worst in people.

“Even for seasoned or professional travelers like myself, it can be stressful, and stress triggers different reactions for different people,” she said. “A lot of it comes down to mindset. If you go into travel expecting the unexpected, you’re less likely to be completely thrown off when things don’t go smoothly.”

Parsons said people often can become stressed and feel a bit frazzled as a result of a number of such issues—traffic delays on the way to the airport; shock at the daily parking rates; security lines being longer than anticipated; realizing too late that it’s 3.4 ounces, not 3.6 (goodbye, expensive face cream); hunger resulting from skipping breakfast because individuals were rushed and thought they would have time to eat at the airport; long restroom lines; and Starbucks mobile ordering not being available during peak times.

“All of these micro-experiences compound into macro-feelings, and they can absolutely affect how people present themselves,” she said. “So yes, travel stress can cause people to behave differently than they normally would.”

Dallas resident and pilot Ben Sewell said he does not believe that air travel has changed so much that it causes people to act differently, but he does think that expectations have changed, and civility isn’t what it used to be.

“In a confined space like an aircraft, people have gone from accepting the limitations of what an airline can provide to a feeling of self-entitlement to bring excessive amounts of baggage and comfort items aboard while not being considerate of their fellow travelers,” he said. “The expectation has exceeded what can reasonably be met, so much of the stress that we see in air travel is more human-related than anything else, although when delays occur due to weather, maintenance, etc., it certainly exacerbates the situation.”

The way people interact with others can certainly impact the individuals involved. Sewell said passengers don’t significantly affect him as a pilot, as it is a rare occasion that he needs to intervene in a dispute, and the attitude of a non-compliant passenger changes when the pilots address them personally.

“It’s harder on the cabin crew and operations agents who manage the boarding process, though stronger enforcement of FAA regulations has helped improve things,” he said. “Still, there are passengers who are difficult, and the simple solution is to remove them from the aircraft, so it’s an effective deterrent for being abusive or combative toward crew members or other passengers.”

As a flight attendant, Parsons has frequent direct interactions with passengers, but she said she makes concerted efforts not to let negativity and the like cause her to change her perspective.

“Passengers’ attitudes do affect us but maybe not in the way people assume,” she said. “Do I lose sleep because someone wasn’t kind to me? No. Does it upset me if I greet every passenger boarding the plane and only a quarter say hello back? Also no. But does it make my workday more enjoyable when they do acknowledge me? Absolutely, 1,000 percent.”

Parsons acknowledged that she is human and certainly experiences her own emotions and bad days, but she also knows that in such situations, she is in uniform and representing what she said is something much bigger than herself.

“I can only control one thing: myself—my actions and my reactions,” she said. “I genuinely try not to let others’ attitudes affect me, but I’d be lying if I said they don’t have any impact. How people treat you can either positively or negatively influence your day, even if you remain professional, no matter what.”

While life will present obstacles and circumstances that may cause frustration or anxiety, there are often solutions to help minimize such feelings. Sewell said in order to make travel as stress-free as possible, the answer would be to increase ticket prices that are more in line with what fares were 40 to 50 years ago.

“Because travel has become so cheap, airplanes are always full, and sometimes etiquette suffers,” he said. “More expensive tickets would mean less-crowded airplanes and better accommodations on board, but the public demand for lower prices has made the travel experience a race to the bottom, so the solution isn’t feasible.”

Ultimately, Sewell said it simply is not possible to create a completely stress-free experience anymore because people want more than can reasonably be accomplished.

“Small improvements? We’re always working on that,” he said. “Bigger seats, more space, better airport experience? That’s difficult, and it’s not realistically achievable if you want the airline to stay in business.”

Harrell recognizes that certain procedures must be in place and said he appreciates that the system has become more streamlined in recent years.

“In today’s world, I’m not sure the process requires so many TSA staff, but it is a good employee process and not going away, even with those who think AI will replace human workers,” he said. “TSA is always working to make the process more efficient, and the system is here to stay, so our attitudes are tied to successfully boarding and heading out on our flights/journeys.”

For Parsons, the solution is more intrinsic and a matter of people doing their parts more so at the heart level.

“Kindness, a little grace, a dash of empathy, and a huge helping of patience—that recipe would serve everyone well,” she said. “Sometimes we expect others to know what we know, to understand the ‘why,’ to move at our pace, or to follow the same etiquette we do.”

Parsons said the reality, though, is that everyone is different and moves through life differently.

“We’re all invited to the same party called life, but not everyone shows up dressed to impress, speaks eloquently, shares the same values or morals, or puts their best foot forward,” she said. “Ultimately, it’s up to each of us to decide how we show up and to make the best of the experience, even when others don’t.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

The NatNews leaders and some future dear readers recently enjoyed a break between some intense YMCA playoff basketball games

Upcoming
Events

Monday, February 16: National Almond Day
Tuesday, February 17: Dallas Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 25–37) at Happiest Hour
Wednesday, February 18: The Desk Jockeys at Sundown at Granada
Thursday, February 19: The Riots of 1967 and the Kerner Report — A Conversation about Race and Today at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
Friday, February 20: Candlelight — Vivaldi’s Four Seasons at Cathedral of Hope; Night at the Museum Masquerade at the Perot Museum of Nature and Science
Saturday, February 21: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Winter Olympics Bar Crawl in the Harwood District; Warp’d Tour — Tributes to Green Day, Blink-182, and Alanis Morissette at Legacy Hall
Sunday, February 22: National Margarita Day at Community Beer Co.; Whatever! Gen X Does Stand-Up at Dallas Comedy Club

NatNews: Issue 204

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 12:59:24 +0100

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February 9, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 204

LIKE SIMPLE PLAN, WE CAN'T ALL BE PERFECT

In 2007, the great Hannah Montana reminded people that everybody makes mistakes, everybody has those days, and nobody is truly perfect.

It might be a good idea for some (or all) individuals to go listen to that heartfelt ballad again or for the first time soon.

There are individuals who label themselves as perfectionists, and even those who don’t value labels much might still strive for perfection in various tasks or areas of their lives. However, doing so on a constant or even frequent basis can be detrimental to one’s overall mental, emotional, and even physical health.

Dallas resident and psychologist Kenleigh McMinn said the tendency to strive for perfection often begins early in life.

“People may earn praise as kids for getting good or perfect grades and maybe don’t get praise or acknowledgment for less than that,” she said. “That can be internalized as meaning that anything short of perfection equals failure or that the best way to receive affection is to be perfect.”

McMinn added that the desire to achieve perfection of some sort can also be a way a person attempts to exert control.

“If things are done perfectly, there is less of a chance that something can go wrong,” she said.

Fort Worth resident Marc Hall said he has observed that the quest to be perfect in certain regards often seems to be a mix of outside pressure and an individual’s own internal drive.

“Thinking through my ‘perfectionist’ friends, I feel like they strive for perfection because of the standards they’ve learned from their environments—things like parental expectations, military training, or looking to climb the corporate ladder,” he said. “For some, it’s also personal, like chasing the next PR in running.”

Some mental health professionals advise taking on the “good enough” mindset and incorporating “satisficing” to help a person stop overthinking by shifting the focus from finding the perfect option to choosing one that meets his or her needs in that moment, freeing up mental energy and momentum. Applying the concept of satisficing and being willing to accept that perfection doesn’t always (or ever) need to be the standard is not necessarily an easy mindset for some individuals to have, though.

“In my career, it’s definitely challenging,” Hall said. “Working on the advisory side in cybersecurity after years on the customer side, I naturally hold myself to a high standard, though I’ve been reminded a few times that ‘good enough’ is sometimes the right balance.”

However, outside of work, Hall is more comfortable realizing that sometimes it is often better for one’s overall well-being not to let unnecessary stress, anxiety, and potential feelings of inadequacy overshadow the focus on balance, self-acceptance, and appreciating one’s progress and achievements.

“Personally, I try not to carry perfectionism into everything else—except home improvement projects, where I still can’t help aiming for perfect (I’ll notice imperfections years after),” he said.

McMinn, who admitted that she is a recovering perfectionist herself, acknowledged that it can certainly be difficult to let go of the need to chase perfectionism, but there are changes in thinking patterns that can help a person struggling to do so.

“Something that can be helpful is recognizing if the standards you hold yourself to are different than your expectations of others,” she said. “If you wouldn’t consider someone else a failure for doing something well (but not perfectly), is that a fair way to think about yourself?”

Perhaps because Sunday’s Super Bowl was on his mind, Hall employed somewhat of a football analogy when reflecting upon how to protect his own mental health regarding perfectionism.

“My perspective is that perfection is a moving target—the goal line always moves,” he said. “Because of that, constantly chasing it can drain a lot of mental energy. Accepting ‘good enough’ helps me avoid overthinking every possibility and detail, which frees me up to move on to the next task.”

It’s a general reality that expectations will not always be met, but that doesn’t mean that good enough is synonymous with inadequate or unacceptable. After all, as McMinn pointed out, perfectionism doesn’t mean the result is complete satisfaction and happiness.

“What might be some positive benefits of allowing ‘good enough’ to be good enough?” McMinn said. “There is often so much time and energy spent on being perfect, but even if it’s achieved, the payoff and relief are short-lived, and the cycle continues.”

DID YOU KNOW?

The Empire State Building is struck by lightning an average of 25 times per year.

THE DAY THAT IS THE 14TH OF FEBRUARY

This Saturday is February 14, which is a high-revenue day for candy, flower, jewelry, and restaurant businesses. According to the National Retail Federation, spending on Valentine’s Day is expected to reach a record $29.1 billion this year in the U.S., with an average of $199.78 spent per person—an increase from $188.81 last year and previous record high of $196.31 from 2020.

Financial aspects aside, Valentine’s Day can stir various emotions in different people, as some are fans of the heart-centric holiday, while others wish it didn’t exist. A recent NatNews research initiative found that 12 percent of poll participants enjoy Valentine’s Day and look forward to it each year, 19 percent think it’s ridiculous and should not be recognized on a calendar, 50 percent change their viewpoints based on whether or not that have significant others at the time, and 19 percent legitimately don’t care and/or have no real opinion of the day.

Dallas-area resident Ashley Jones said Valentine’s Day is her favorite holiday, and she appreciates the colors, shapes, flowers, and romance the day brings.

“I adore love and everything related to it,” she said. “I have always loved Valentine’s Day since elementary school when everyone celebrated together, and I still view it in that way today. It’s a time to celebrate everyone you love. With the division, anger, and hate that we are seeing daily in our world, I believe it’s more important than ever to take a day to celebrate the love and positivity that exists in our lives.”

Dallas-area resident Adrian Acevedo said he thinks designating Valentine’s Day as a significant holiday can present a sticky situation for some individuals, especially for a person who doesn’t have someone else with whom to celebrate. However, he does believe that the holiday can hold value for anyone.

“Valentine’s Day can be just for yourself, or it can be for your partner,” he said. “I think it should be celebrated because you are professing your love for the other person or for yourself. It should be a day that you treat them well—or treat yourself well—with all types of gifts.”

Dallas-area resident Nikki East said she views Valentine’s Day as a “Hallmark holiday” and has never been a fan of the day—a perspective that is not contingent upon whether she is single or in a relationship at the time.

“While I can somewhat understand how some people enjoy a day that is designated to love, I am a firm believer that love should be expressed regularly and not because a calendar says so,” she said. “I believe it is an opportunistic day for businesses to increase revenue. Seriously, have you seen the markup of things for this day? I mean, the same steak I can get at a nice restaurant on a random Thursday in March is more expensive on Valentine’s. Maybe some will say I’m pessimistic, but it screams ‘marketing scheme’ to me.”

Whether one likes the holiday or not, it certainly does its best to remind everyone of its annual appearance, and many people don’t ignore or forget about it too easily. Acevedo said he believes that individuals often make a big deal of Valentine’s Day because they want to feel like they are part of something special and not experience loneliness, regardless of what their relationship statuses are.

“People don’t want to feel like they’re missing out on the Valentine’s Day holiday, but you can still celebrate it with friends or family or by yourself,” he said. “You don’t have to have a partner to celebrate that day.”

Like Acevedo, Jones doesn’t believe that Valentine’s Day should be seen as something exclusively reserved for couples and said she thinks that people often focus far too much on the relationship aspect that surrounds the holiday.

“The expectations are set too high, and the pressure for those in relationships can be overwhelming,” she said. “Those who are single let the lack of romance ruin the day. However, for me, the focus isn’t about romantic love. I’ve never had a partner on Valentine’s Day but have always chosen to celebrate the people I love.”

The good news is that Valentine’s Day isn’t the only day that people can remind others in their lives that they love them. For Acevedo, it’s important for people to express love to one another on a regular basis by consistently being present and cherishing moments and memories with one another.

“Always give 100 percent,” he said. “Even though Valentine’s Day is just one day out of the year, you should still treat your partner or the person you love with all of your respect and kindness every day. It’s about communication and experiencing new things together.”

East said consistently showing love to others involves being vulnerable enough to have truthful conversations that then go beyond the words spoken.

“I think it’s important to always have open and honest communication with those you care about to truly understand what makes them happy or brings them joy,” she said. “Then be intentional in how you can help bring that happiness and joy to them on a regular basis.”

East said she is a strong advocate of love languages (acts of service, physical touch, quality time, receiving gifts, and words of affirmation), with quality time and physical touch being her top two.

“If someone had a desire to show me love, it would be through spending time together without distractions—allowing for deep, meaningful conversation—and hugs,” she said. “I love me some hugs. I really believe it’s the little simple things in life that truly show someone you care and love them. It’s not necessarily a flashy, overhyped day in February.”

Jones said it’s important for individuals to share their love with others, not simply by telling them but by expressing it in different ways, as well. Like East, Jones also thinks it’s important to understand one another’s love languages to better make them feel loved.

“Let them know why you appreciate and love them,” she said. “I think so many people focus on over-the-top expressions of love when the small things can make a difference, as well—and so can expressing gratitude for the love in our lives, regardless of the type.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

The cupcake patrol was out in full force over the weekend

Upcoming
Events

Monday, February 9: National Pizza Day; St. Olaf Choir at the Meyerson Symphony Center
Tuesday, February 10: Free Rooftop Movie — Love Jones at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, February 11: Allen Americans vs. Wichita Thunder at Credit Union of Texas Event Center; Badfish at Outdoors at Club Dada
Thursday, February 12: Galentine’s Party at Casablanca; Kim McVicar at Dallas Comedy Club
Friday, February 13: The Molly Ringwalds at Legacy Hall; WWE Friday Night Smackdown at the American Airlines Center; Dallas Open at the Ford Center (goes through Sunday); Violet Evergarden at Music Hall at Fair Park
Saturday, February 14: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Jazz at the Museum at the Dallas Museum of Art; Valentine’s Day Comedy Show at Music Hall at Fair Park
Sunday, February 15: Harlem Globetrotters at the American Airlines Center; Lunar New Year at Richardson Core District

NatNews: Issue 203

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 12:59:30 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

February 2, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 203

STRETCH IT OUT FOR LONGEVITY

It is not uncommon to see people at the gym or before a sports or athletic competition of some sort stretching, often to warm up or loosen up their muscles and take extra concerted efforts not to pull any muscles. Younger individuals sometimes do not concern themselves with such precautions, but as people age, their bodies start to feel pains and twinges more often.

Stretching on a regular basis, though, can benefit a person in a number of ways and potentially improve longevity.

A recent NatNews research initiative found that 21 percent of polled respondents stretch at least daily, 24 percent stretch only before exercise, 45 percent do so on occasion, and 10 percent never stretch.

Dallas resident and licensed physical therapist Lyndsy Nevitt, who is also a certified Pilates instructor and owner of Bear PT & Pilates, said stretching helps keep balance in an individual’s body.

“Daily stretching prevents tightness that forms from compensatory patterns,” she said. “It allows muscles to give joints more room to work the way they are meant to work, thus decreasing odds of injury and strain. It is important to stretch after your body is warmed up. Stretching on too ‘cold’ of muscles could result in muscles not loosening up or even in injury if too forceful.”

Dallas-area resident, school counselor, and runner Olivia Wetzel said she incorporates stretching into her life on a daily basis. She describes herself as always being a “wiggly” kid and often had unique or “goofy” ways of sitting in chairs. She sometimes even preferred to stand or lie flat on her belly when she was completing her school assignments. Wetzel, who was previously diagnosed with ADHD, recently learned that she also has Hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (hEDS), which is a condition characterized by generalized joint hypermobility, joint instability, pain, and soft and hyperextensible skin.

“So, all of my wiggles and stretches were my body working to support itself,” she said. “I played tennis all through high school and college, so stretching was always a part of that, but stretching and movement is a part of my daily routine, even when I don’t realize it.”

Wetzel said she doesn’t have a set pattern or schedule for her stretching, but she does find herself performing small stretches and movements throughout the day. However, there are certain precautions she needs to take to ensure that she stays healthy and injury-free.

“Now, knowing about my hEDS, I have to be careful stretching because I can easily go past the correct range of motion and hurt myself,” she said. “I also use certain braces and resistance bands at times that help my body feel good.”

And while Wetzel said she doesn’t have the knowledge to declare certain stretches as being “key” for everyone, she knows it is important for each unique individual to determine what is best for him or her.

“Being a bendy person and having hEDS, learning how my body works and what is helpful and safe for my body has been key,” she said. “I think working with a physical therapist or trainer can be helpful for someone wanting to learn more.”

Nevitt, whose practice is located in Dallas on the east side of U.S. 75 between Mockingbird Lane and SMU Boulevard, said her two favorite stretches she thinks that everyone should perform help maintain mobility for the lower back and hips.

“A supine hamstring stretch and a supine figure four stretch are two that I think everyone could benefit from,” she said. “They are easy to do, and no equipment is needed, and in the supine position, you are in a safe place to maintain a nice neutral spine to prevent ‘cranking’ on your low back.”

Sitting for long periods of time and getting wrapped up in the daily stresses of life can lead to poorer posture and a decrease in mobility and the ability to rest easily. As such aspects are important to longevity, incorporating daily stretching into one’s routine can help counteract the physical strain modern life can often bring.

“As a counselor and someone who loves both movement and rest/recovery, mindful movement like stretching can certainly help calm the nervous system and improve body resilience,” Wetzel said. “If I see a stressed-out student, I usually offer a walk with me in the hallway, or I allow flexible seating in my office (sitting or stretching out on the floor). Also, using stress balls or something to squeeze helps, too. Mindful movement—I’m a big fan.”

Nevitt also said daily stretching can provide significant advantages and noted that it can certainly take on a form of meditation that can help boost longevity and overall well-being.

“For us to stop, slow our bodies, and breathe into the stretch could be very beneficial for everyone,” she said. “Stretching allows us to be still in each position and focus on moving slowly and sustaining that posture. This can provide a calming effect in a world of go, go, go.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Nylon fiber—one of the most used fabric materials because of its quality and durability—was first used as a material for fishing lines, 3D printing, packing foods, and building car engines.

RESEARCH SHOWS THAT TALKING TO STRANGERS CAN INCREASE OVERALL HAPPINESS

When you’re a little kid, for safety reasons, you’re often taught not to talk to strangers. As an adult, though, many individuals become more capable of discerning when it is OK to speak to people you don’t know.

And it turns out that such interactions can actually lead to an increase in happiness.

However, different individuals have different comfort levels when it comes to striking up conversations with strangers. Sacramento-area resident Ashley English said for her, it depends on the situation in which she finds herself.

“Sometimes it’s easier because they don’t know you, and you can put on your situational veneer, such as with polite business chatter or asking the person at check-out how they’re doing,” she said. “But prolonged situations with people I don’t know very well can be stressful. So, as long as I don’t feel like I’m in the hot seat and need the interaction to go well (like during a job interview situation or networking event), I’m good.”

Like English, Dallas-area resident Kyle Burnett, who describes himself as an ambivert (a combination of an introvert and extrovert), said his level of comfort in engaging in conversation with people he doesn’t know is also situational.

“I am notoriously shy and reserved around strangers, though,” he said.

For Dallas resident Adam Gribben, his affinity for talking to individuals with whom he is not yet familiar is less contingent on the situation and more so on the topic of the conversation.

“I am comfortable talking to strangers,” he said. “‘They are just us,’ as my tattoo artist niece would say.”

And because of his ability to feel comfortable starting conversations with people he doesn’t know, when Gribben finds himself in intentional social gatherings and situations, he doesn’t need it to be solely among friends and acquaintances and embraces the chance to turn strangers into non-strangers.

“I prefer somewhat of a mix, but I can get comfortable with a routine, such that the number of unknown people starts to become fewer and fewer,” he said

Not everyone is as willing to attend events in which they will likely be required to interact with unfamiliar faces if they don’t want to be completely antisocial, though. Burnett said he would much rather find himself in social situations in which he knows the other people around him.

“It’s just a comfort-level thing,” he said.

English said her likelihood of feeling at-ease is dependent upon what type of social engagement she is attending, as certain situations can cause her stress levels to increase more than others.

“I’m always a little anxious meeting new people, so a gathering with close-knit friends or family is certainly preferred, but in other situations, I may prefer to be meeting new people than getting together with people I know I don’t get along well with,” she said. “A mix is good, too, but may be even worse if it were mostly people I didn’t know and only a few I did. If everyone else knows each other except me, that’s probably my worst-case scenario—I’m getting anxious even thinking about it.”

A study in 2022 focusing on assessing the correlation of social encounters and happiness revealed that interacting with a more diverse set of relationship types predicts higher well-being. While interactions with individuals such as partners, family members, friends, etc. who are part of closer relationships offer greater opportunities for more authentic, substantive, and responsive conversations, interactions with colleagues and strangers—with whom people tend to have more surface-level conversations—can also result in unexpected positive experiences, according to the study.

While Burnett doesn’t doubt the findings of the study, he said they won’t impact or change his levels of comfort in his social interactions.

“I’m sure that increased happiness is possible from talking to strangers, but it’s not enough to encourage me to do it,” he said.

Some individuals, including Gribben, though, see the link between the relational diversity of a person’s social portfolio (the richness and evenness of relationship types across the individual’s social interactions) and well-being as an opportunity to discover information about others and share personal anecdotes with them, as well.

“I do believe speaking to people you don’t know could increase happiness,” he said. “You get to hear some new stories and get to retell some oldies but goodies.”

As the study indicates, relational diversity when it comes to one’s social circles—having a balance between close relationships and those that are more distant but still allow for engagement—can certainly be beneficial for a person’s overall well-being.

“That study makes sense to me,” English said. “Despite being shy, I do tend to be happier walking away from those random conversations struck up in the line at the grocery store or at the gym.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

As a NatNews picture etiquette reminder, always get in the middle when you’re the third wheel

Upcoming
Events

Monday, February 2: Stars vs. Jets at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, February 3: Mavs vs. Celtics at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — Down to Earth at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, February 4: Stars vs. Blues at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, February 5: Mavs vs. Spurs at the American Airlines Center; Karen Mills at Dallas Comedy Club
Friday, February 6: National Frozen Yogurt Day; Jared Freid at House of Blues Dallas; Billy Joel Tribute — My Life at Legacy Hall
Saturday, February 7: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Hot Chocolate Run at Fair Park; 13-Year Anniversary Party at Community Beer Co.; Dallasites101 9th Annual Cupid’s Crawl on Greenville Avenue; New Edition at the American Airlines Center
Sunday, February 8: Super Bowl LX on NBC/Peacock

NatNews: Issue 202

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 12:59:28 +0100

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January 26, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 202

IV THERAPY TREATMENT FOR HYDRATION + HEALTH BENEFITS

While intravenous (IV) treatments have historically been associated with being in the hospital, as it is a more expedited way to provide fluids and medications into a person’s body by injecting it through his or her bloodstream, in more recent years, IV treatment therapy has been commonly used for overall improved health and wellness.

Such a form of IV treatment is meant to replenish one’s body, boost the immune system, and increase energy levels by providing hydration, vitamins, and minerals directly into the bloodstream. IV therapy is available at several places throughout the Dallas area, including at Cryo1one, the metroplex’s leading wellness and recovery provider with more than 10 years of experience.

Dallas resident and owner and founder of Cryo1one Kelly Carden said using IV therapy as a means of vitamin intake is a faster and more effective way than ingesting vitamins in pill or gummy form.

“When we take vitamins orally, our bodies have to pass these vitamins through our digestive tracts, so we lose a lot of the absorption,” she said. “However, as a vitamin shot, there is a 95-percent absorption rate, and as an IV, there is a 99-percent absorption rate because it goes straight to our blood streams. Your IV provider can help you pick the proper vitamins (for example, glutathione, Vitamin C, and zinc help your immune system) to best help you accomplish your wellness goals.”

Because nutrients and fluids are delivered directly into the bloodstream, the effects of IV treatment therapy typically do not take an extensive amount of time.

“If you are coming for an IV because you are dehydrated or hung over, you will feel an immediate perk in energy and less of a headache,” Carden said. “Most customers experience the benefits with better sleep that evening, more energy the next day, and a better immune system. Additionally, you will see the correct color in your pee after one IV, as you are now properly hydrated.”

Regarding how often one should receive such a form of wellness therapy, Carden said each person is different, and the time frame between treatments is contingent upon an individual’s medical history and current conditions.

“We always advise checking with your medical doctor on frequencies,” she said. “However, an IV once a month is a great way to stay properly hydrated with vitamins that bodies naturally need. If you are starting to feel sick, we do recommend that you get an IV as soon as possible to get vitamins that help your body fight the infection and be properly hydrated for more recovery and better rest.”

Carden also recommended receiving an IV treatment prior to an event or outing during which a person knows that he or she will be consuming alcohol and before hopping on a plane.

“What causes sickness and feeling awful when you are hungover is being dehydrated, so if possible, get an IV before a big night out so that you are being proactive rather than reactive,” she said. “An IV before traveling, which can deplete our hydration levels, is also strongly recommended.”

If you are interested in IV therapy and have hesitations or have never received such treatments previously, it is recommended to speak with your doctor, especially if you are already on medications so that you can discuss potential interactions between your prescriptions and an IV vitamin treatment. Carden also suggests speaking to the nurse who will be administering the IV to express your concerns and have your treatment customized.

“I always advise people to start with vitamin shots rather than IVs if they are in a hurry because they will get the benefits of the vitamins without the time commitment,” Carden said. “It is a nice way to start. Most people only have experience with IVs in high-stress, uncomfortable hospital settings. Elective IVs are very comfortable and social and are not rushed, so they can be totally customizable.”

Anything—including elements that are generally more natural, such as vitamins and fluids—put into the human body can carry risks, and excess amounts of certain vitamins and minerals have been linked to kidney damage, heart rhythm abnormalities, blood pressure changes, gastrointestinal symptoms, and peripheral nerve damage. As with any form of new addition to one’s health practices, it is important to understand the potential risks, benefits, and alternatives.

“As mentioned, before you have an elective IV, please always consult with your medical doctor if you have any known blood clot or heart issues or are pregnant,” Carden said. “Your medical doctor can offer customizations (such as vitamins to avoid, etc.) for your IV if any are needed.”

For additional questions and information, you can visit the Cryo1one website or contact Kelly and her staff directly. Cry1one is located at the Preston Royal Village and, in addition to IV therapy, offers several other services, including whole body/localized cryotherapy, infrared sauna, dry salt therapy, red light therapy, biocharger, rapid reboot compression boots, vitamin shots, Ballancer Pro lymphatic drainage, contour red light therapy, and LightStim ProPanel red light therapy.

DID YOU KNOW?

Sea turtles cry to get rid of excess salt in their bodies and maintain internal water balance.

HEADPHONES: VERSATILE + SOMETIMES CONTROVERSIAL

It is not uncommon to see people wearing headphones while going about their days—whether they are working out, working, chatting on the phone, shopping at the grocery store, driving, riding on public transportation, or taking part in various other activities.

Doing so allows for individuals to have more individualized experiences as they consume media (music, podcasts, audiobooks, etc.), engage in conversations, attempt to maintain focus, or seek to avoid social interactions.

“I use headphones whenever I need to listen to something in public,” Dallas resident Chet MacArthur said. “Most frequently, I wear headphones when on a run or when talking on the phone. I like that wireless headphones tend to have built-in microphones so that I can talk on the phone completely hands-free.”

There are several varieties of headphone options, including bone-conduction and other open-ear products (e.g., Shokz), which transmit sound via vibrations and allow for better situational awareness; earbuds (such as AirPods), which offer noise isolation and increased sound quality; and over-the-ear headphones (e.g., Beats), which can provide comfort and a more immersive audio experience.

MacArthur said he wears bone-conduction headphones when he goes running or to the gym and uses noise-canceling in-ear headphones in all other situations in which he uses such technology.

“I prefer the bone-conduction ones for running and working out because I never need to worry about them falling out, they are more comfortable for long periods of time, and they are much safer to run in, as they don’t block out sounds from cars that could be near,” he said. “I prefer the noise-canceling in-ear option for everything else because they have better sound quality, which is something I like when watching a show or listening to music.”

Dallas-area resident Cristy Brandenburg said she wears headphones while she is working out and during phone calls while she is simultaneously cooking or doing laundry or other housework that requires both hands. For such instances, she enjoys wearing her in-ear AirPods.

“They hold a charge well, are comfortable, and are compatible with the voice isolation feature on my phone so that others don’t hear the background noise of dishes, the dog barking, water running, etc.,” she said.

Like Brandenburg, Dallas-area resident Brandy Washington enjoys wearing headphones in several situations, including while she is completing a variety of tasks at home.

“I’m usually wearing them when the girls (my stepdaughters) are at the house for break, when I’m working in the garden, or when I’m doing housework and want to be in the zone,” she said. “I also wear them on a plane.”

Washington said her go-to choice for headphones are her over-the-ear Sonys.

“The audio is so crisp,” she said. “They also don’t have that slightly tinny quality the earbuds can have.”

Headphones can be potentially troublesome at times, though, particularly in regard to safety when they block out too much noise and make a person less aware of his or her surroundings.

“They are absolutely a problem in terms of awareness,” Washington said. “The noise canceling works a little too well, and the girls have scared the heck out of me more than once.”

As he mentioned, MacArthur said one of the main reasons he now wears the bone-conduction device in certain circumstances is because of the dangers other options present.

“Headphones can be unsafe when worn by runners, walkers, or bikers, as they can drown out the sounds of cars or other disturbances, which could threaten the pedestrian or rider,” he said. “I used to run in noise-canceling earphones in Los Angeles and stopped because I realized it wasn’t very safe.”

Brandenburg also noted that headphones can be a safety hazard, especially when they are worn when a person is behind the wheel.

“The main problem I see with headphones is using them safely while driving since they might hinder awareness of sirens from emergency vehicles,” she said. “If I use them while driving, I only use one AirPod to maintain awareness of my surroundings.”

Another concern that headphone use can raise in various instances is its ability to isolate a person, creating a space in which someone is caught between being connected with the outside world through social interaction and being connected with his or her internal world of thoughts and emotions. When individuals choose to keep headphones in and not engage with those around them, as Brandenburg notes, doing so can have a negative impact on socialization.

“I consider myself a friendly person, often speaking to others in parks, grocery stores, or at the gym,” she said. “However, when someone is wearing headphones, I feel that any friendliness would be considered an interruption, so I refrain from engaging.”

Like Brandenburg, MacArthur has also noticed how the frequent use of headphones in public settings can cause people to disassociate with others, which he believes can be problematic in a long-term perspective.

“I don’t think it’s a bad thing if someone wants to go for a walk or run with headphones, as it allows them to listen to music, call a friend, or enjoy an audio book,” he said, “but when everyone has their headphones in all of the time, it almost makes the world a less inviting place.”

MacArthur said the feeling of welcomeness was one of the most significant differences he noticed when he moved from Southern California to Dallas, and he doesn’t necessarily fault headphone use for lack of engagement among individuals.

“In California, everyone walks around with headphones in and never really says ‘hi’ or stops to talk to strangers, seeming very absorbed in their own world,” he said. “In Dallas, that is less of the case. People more often will say ‘hi’ when you walk by them and strike up conversations. I don’t think headphones are the problem—rather, they are an enabler for a society who is becoming less social over time.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

The NatNews leader braved the weather and conflicting emotions to watch Luka play for the wrong team

Upcoming
Events

Monday, January 26: Dallas Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 25–37) at Happiest Hour
Tuesday, January 27: Free Rooftop Movie — Down to Earth at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, January 28: Mavs vs. Timberwolves at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, January 29: AJ Foster at Dallas Comedy Club; Wine Tour of the World at the Ritz-Carlton Dallas; Mavs vs. Hornets at the American Airlines Center
Friday, January 30: ‘90s Tribute — The Clinton Years at Legacy Hall
Saturday, January 31: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Toxic — The Britney Spears Experience at Community Beer Co.; TWICE at the American Airlines Center (also on Sunday)
Sunday, February 1: Allen Americans vs. Rapid City Rush at Credit Union of Texas Event Center; Texas Legends vs. Sioux Falls Skyforce at Comerica Center

NatNews: Issue 201

Mon, 19 Jan 2026 12:59:23 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

January 19, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 201

TURN UP THE HEAT—MAYBE?

While regularly working out can be a challenge for many individuals, some people like to add some extra difficulty by immersing themselves in settings with temperatures ranging anywhere from 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29.4 degrees Celsius) to more than 100 degrees F (37.8 degrees C).

Whether it’s yoga, Pilates, full-body workout, spin, or a variety of other available classes, heated workouts have become popular options for many exercise enthusiasts.

Dallas resident Craig Borkenhagen enjoys taking heated yoga classes on a rather consistent basis. He said enduring a workout that is slightly more difficult because of the additional heat component allows him to feel more accomplished and overall better about himself. As an avid runner, Borkenhagen also appreciates the benefit of injury prevention such workouts can provide.

“Getting my body moving in different ways with all of those poses—almost shocking it out of its comfort zone—helps me cross-train and forces me to push harder than I would on my own in a gym,” he said.

There are a few specific physical health benefits that can result from taking part in heated workouts, though individuals with existing health conditions should consult their doctors prior to doing so. Exercising in warmer temperatures can increase blood flow and warm muscle tissue, which can enhance flexibility (reducing stiffness and potentially helping prevent injuries), and slightly boosts cardiovascular demand, which can result in more calories burned than during a workout in an environment with a more regular temperature.

“To me, that manifests in feeling fresher and almost more alive,” Borkenhagen said.

It is important to be mindful, though, as working out in increased temperatures can reduce exercise intensity and increase physiological strain, which could cause a decrease in the quality of the workout. As one study conducted by the American Council of Exercise regarding the effects of Bikram yoga on a person’s core body temperature emphasized, a key concern in heated workouts is dehydration, which can cause fatigue, headaches, dizziness, weakness, paleness, cold and clammy skin, and excessive sweating. Experts recommend drinking ample amounts of fluid before, during, and after exercise to avoid such a condition.

To combat dehydration and the potential for any sort of heat exhaustion, Borkenhagen said he always has a large water bottle next to his mat and takes a quick drink whenever he needs to do so.

“There’s also no shame in taking a breather outside of the scheduled break that’s usually halfway through a class,” he said. “I also sometimes modify the pose or movement to ease up a bit, but I’m still moving and working.”

While heated workouts can be enjoyable and beneficial for some individuals, it is important to note that they are not for everyone. People with chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and asthma, as well as women who are pregnant should check with their physicians before taking part in such activities.

DID YOU KNOW?

On average, a person spends approximately two weeks (20,160 minutes) of his or her lifetime kissing.

KEEPING TRACK OF ALL OF THE LIFE THINGS

Life is filled with busyness and chaos in the form of meetings, events, deadlines, and several other time-oriented occurrences, and it can often become stressful to try to keep track of everything.

Thanks to technology, many people have become dependent upon apps on their phones and/or computers to help them keep track of their schedules, though some individuals still enjoy the tactile experience of writing things down in a physical planner or calendar.

Dallas-area resident Josh Odegard runs his own IT services company (Key03 Technologies LLC), helps manage two separate running groups, and has an active social life, so he heavily relies on certain apps to help him stay organized, especially when coordinating with his girlfriend, who also has a full schedule.

“Thank God for Google,” he said. “I use Google for almost everything and not just because it makes better phones—which it does, just so we’re clear—but I use Google for most things because it has apps for everything, and they all work well together. I have the Google Calendar app on my phone, and I use the home screen widget that shows me a scrolling list of events that are on my calendar for the next week. It updates in real time, so items disappear as their scheduled times pass. It also shows all of the calendars that I have set up in my Google Calendar account.”

Odegard has separate calendars for his work life and personal life and shares his personal calendar with his girlfriend and best friend, and they also share their calendars with him.

“I can see all four calendars together, or I can filter it so that I only see the calendars that I’m interested in at any time,” he said. “I also have the Google Calendar website open in my browser at all times in case I need to see something quickly while I’m working.”

Odegard appreciates that Google Calendar integrates with Google Tasks, allowing him to see any to-dos or reminders that he’s created on the web calendar and in his phone widget, which helps him remember little notes or tasks more easily. Google Calendar is also integrated with Google Gemini, the AI assistant that’s built into Android phones and Odegard’s Google Home speakers.

“At least once or twice a day, I just say out loud ‘hey, Google, remind me in five minutes to blah, blah, blah’ to set a quick reminder for something I need to do later but don’t have time to write down in the moment or don’t trust myself to remember even five minutes later,” he said. “One of the speakers in my house will pick it up and add the reminder to my Google account. I can then see it on my calendar anywhere I check it, and a reminder pops up on my phone, as well.”

Odegard said he also sets reminder notifications for many of his Google Calendar events. For instance, when he has a trip planned a few months in advance, after he adds the trip to his calendar, he will then add reminders for six, four, and two weeks before the event, and for a closer event, he will often set one to three reminders a few days prior.

“The repeated reminders help me remember when I have events coming up, even if they’re not as big as a trip,” he said. “Sometimes I just don’t want to forget that I only have three or two weeks or one week left to file my taxes.”

There are some individuals, though, who prefer to go about keeping track of their schedules in more old-school tangible styles. Dallas-area resident Megan England, who is not only the official fashion correspondent of NatNews but is also a high school teacher, said during the school year specifically, she uses a giant desk calendar.

“I like that it gives me a bird’s-eye view of an extended period of time,” she said. “It also allows plenty of space for me to jot down smaller details to remember each day.”

England said she doesn’t keep this sort of schedule organization throughout the entire year, though.

“During the summer, I don’t know what time, day, week, or month it is,” she said.

There are also individuals who opt to stay on top of life and all of its events, obligations, and other social occurrences in methods that might make more sense to them than to others.

“I’m chaotically organized,” Dallas-area resident Nikki East said. “I use a calendar on my phone, a physical planner, sticky notes, dry erase boards, OneNote, etc.”

East said having multiple ways to keep track of her tasks and agenda aligns with the way her brain functions.

“I require the structure that organization provides, but I also require flexibility around what that organization looks like,” she said. “Yet, I don’t think I could even define the purposes of the various methods—chaotic organization.”

Dallas-area resident Robyn Allen said she also uses a combination of means to make sure that she manages her schedule effectively. For Allen, this includes her phone app, an old-school planner, and her brain.

“I still like to write physically on paper,” she said. “I remember best this way.”

Allen said she believes that there is no specific correct means by which an individual needs to keep track of his or her day-to-day activities.

“Whatever works for each person, then run with it,” she said.

Like Allen, East said she thinks that people should manage their time in the ways that are most effective for them.

“As long as a person honors their responsibilities and obligations, especially if others are involved in some way, then I’d say it depends on the person,” she said.

As with several areas of life, there doesn’t necessarily need to be a standard operating procedure, as different personalities and problem-solving and decision-making abilities are going to discover effectiveness that is specific to the individuals and how their minds function.

“I feel we should always set ourselves up for success in whatever way we can,” England said. “Being prompt and remembering details are all a part of having good manners. Having a tracking system accomplishes both of these things.”

And though Odegard has found his go-to methods that help him stay on top of everything he needs to complete, attend, etc., he also has questions as to whether or not he would truly need them had he never extensively used them in the first place.

“While I definitely believe that apps like Google Calendar and Google Tasks are great for helping to remember appointments, tasks, birthdays, and more, I also wonder if relying on these types of apps for a long period of time is why I need apps like them to be able to remember everything,” he said. “I do have a very full life, so there is a lot to remember, but if I don’t have to remember things myself, does my brain lose its ability to do it by itself? I don’t know—it’s the chicken and the egg, I guess.”

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NatNews and some dear readers brought back the heart made of humans

Upcoming
Events

Monday, January 19: Texas Legends vs. Capital City Go-Go at Comerica Center
Tuesday, January 20: Stars vs. Bruins at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — Roofman at Sundown at Granada; Dallasites101 Mocktail-Making Class at Sixty Vines Uptown
Wednesday, January 21: The Oak Ridge Boys at the Kessler
Thursday, January 22: Mavs vs. Warriors at the American Airlines Center; Meka Carey at Dallas Comedy Club
Friday, January 23: Stars vs. Blues at the American Airlines Center; Candlelight — Tribute to Taylor Swift at Frontiers of Flight Museum; Late Night at the Museum at the Dallas Museum of Art
Saturday, January 24: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Mavs vs. Lakers at the American Airlines Center; Morgan Wallen Tribute — Chasin’ U at Legacy Hall; The Prince Experience at House of Blues Dallas
Sunday, January 25: NFL Conference Championship games on CBS and FOX

NatNews: Issue 200

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 12:59:35 +0100

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January 12, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 200

IS YOUR SLEEP STYLE IMPORTANT?

While some individuals are able to fall asleep easily just about anywhere in any way, others are more inclined to need to be in their complete comfort zones to do so—and that includes in their desired sleeping positions.

Whether you prefer to be on your side, back, stomach, sprawled all over the place, or some combination of all of those throughout the night, sleeping positions can have a wide range of effects on a person’s body, especially as people increase in years of life lived, so the sleep style for which one opts is generally a matter of comfort.

Dallas-area resident Madison Royal said she has historically slept on her left side with her knees bent. Depending on how her back feels, she will sometimes put a pillow between her knees.

“The only time I have been able to sleep another way is when I was pregnant,” she said. “I could sometimes sleep on my right side or on my back, but I’m mostly always on my left side.”

One study indicated that more than 60 percent of adults sleep on their sides, making it the most common position, while sleeping on one’s back is the next most popular option. Like Royal, Dallas resident Roberto Cowan generally sleeps on his left side, as that is what is most comfortable for him, but he also tends to find slumber while lying on his back.

“It’s just how I fall asleep sometimes when I’m watching TV,” he said.

Connecticut resident Emily Baldwin said she almost always starts sleeping on her side, as that’s what feels most natural to her, though she changes it up frequently and has no preferred side. However, she also indicated that her sleep position is not consistent on a nightly basis or even throughout one night.

“I’ll often sleep on my stomach if I can’t get comfortable,” she said.

There are some individuals, including Dallas-area resident Erin Jewell, who almost always sleep on their stomachs. She said she will occasionally go to sleep on her right side, but she prefers her stomach.

“Stomach sleeping is simply the fastest way for me to fall asleep,” Jewell said. “It’s comfortable—even if I start on my side, I’ll end up on my stomach. The worst part of being pregnant was that I couldn’t sleep on my stomach.”

According to Harvard Medical School, the side-sleeping style is beneficial for those who are pregnant, as it promotes blood flow and helps reduce swelling in the legs and ankles. Additionally, sleeping on one’s side can allow a person to breathe more easily and decrease heartburn but could also further aggravate joint pain. Sleeping on one’s back helps maintain spine straightness but can also worsen breathing issues (including sleep apnea) and increase heartburn.

While sleeping on the stomach can reduce snoring and sleep apnea, it can also create pain and discomfort, particular in one’s neck and back. Jewell, however, has found a way to help her avoid such issues.

“I only use one pillow, so it doesn’t strain my neck or hurt my back,” she said.

Baldwin, who is in her early 20s and still has youth on her side, said she assumes that sleeping on her stomach might not be the best option, but she is not too concerned with that right now.

“Honestly, as long as I’m sleeping, I don’t care what gets the job done,” she said.

When it comes to the “best” sleep position, it’s important to focus on promoting spinal alignment, from one’s head down to one’s hips. In both the side and back positions, it’s easier to keep a person’s spine supported and balanced, which relieves pressure and enables the individual’s muscles to relax and recover.

There are additional health factors to consider, as well. Johns Hopkins Medicine noted that sleeping on a certain side, particularly for individuals who suffer from heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), can worsen symptoms. Royal is aware of this and has experienced such effects in her own sleep life.

“I read once that sleeping on your right side can cause more G.I. issues and acid reflux because of how your stomach is positioned, and I noticed that I have trouble when I’m on my right side for too long,” she said.

Certain theories exist claiming that the way a person sleeps can often be indicative of certain personality traits of that individual. For instance, the notion has been posed that one who sleeps on his or her back with hands to the side is quiet and reserved, while a person who sleeps on his or her stomach tends to be sociable and often defensive, and someone who sleeps curled up in the fetal position is tough on the outside but sensitive at heart and seemingly shy but actually more relaxed and open than others might think. However, research conducted has not significantly supported such beliefs.

Baldwin said she thinks that there could be some ties to sleep styles and certain characteristics, though.

“I think if you sleep talk or sleep in weird positions, it can seem like you’re more laid-back or weird/funny,” she said. “Imagining someone sleeping perfectly propped up and on their back the whole night makes me think that they’re uptight or a perfectionist—almost creepy in a way.”

Jewell said she does not believe that the position in which one sleeps truly says anything about that person and his or her personality. For Jewell, it’s simply more about comfort and being able to sleep well through the night.

“Whatever works for you is best,” she said.

Similar to Jewell, Royal said she thinks that whether there is validity in how a person sleeps and certain aspects of his or her personality is not as important as simply being comfortable in the sleep style that helps him or her get enough essential rest throughout the night.

“When it comes to sleeping, I say to each their own,” she said. “I do think that people who sleep harder are sometimes stomach sleepers, but I definitely think whatever works for you is vital.”

DID YOU KNOW?

While humans have approximately three octaves, foxes have five and are able to produce anywhere from 28 to 40 different vocalizations.

DALLAS BALLOON MUSEUM OFFERS TEMPORARY CITY ATTRACTION

Prior to hosting the World Cup this summer, the metroplex (and this time, the actual city of Dallas, not Arlington) is serving as a temporary home to another exciting attraction: inflatable art.

Debuting in Rome in 2021, the Balloon Museum has become a global phenomenon and welcomed more than 7 million visitors to its various locations. The format of the museum was created by a curatorial team that designs and realizes contemporary art exhibitions with specific works that feature air as the distinctive element.

The Balloon Museum produces four different interactive exhibitions—Pop Air, Let’s Fly, EmotionAir, and Euphoria—in what it calls an “unconventional approach” to culture to help establish inflatable art as a world-renowned pop movement.

The Dallas Balloon Museum exhibit is Let’s Fly, which originally debuted in the U.S. in 2023 and “explores air not only as a physical element but as a symbol of movement and limitless travel—both within ourselves and beyond.” This temporary Dallas attraction, located at South Side Studios (2901 Botham Jean Blvd.), opened its doors on November 22, 2025, and will remain open until April 26 of this year.

Dallas resident Erasmo Estrada, a project manager at a global real estate development company, played a role in helping bring the Balloon Museum to the city. He said he is connected to South Side Studios, which primarily serves as a film studio, through work and was involved in previous significant renovations at the property.

“There was an opportunity to have this interactive art museum in the space for six months, but the design of the building was such that it did not support large groups of people, per code, so we worked with several teams to find a solution to make modifications to the existing space to become compliant for supporting many more people,” he said. “This involved fire alarm upgrades, egress changes, lighting changes, creating new pathways in the building, new entrances, and working closely with the City of Dallas to find a path to allow this group to come in for the temporary time period before the space returns to its previous use.”

Estrada and his team faced a few challenges, not only because of the strong desire to have the Balloon Museum temporarily fill this space while still needing to meet compliance requirements but also because of the quick turnaround time to get everything completed.

“They wanted them there in November,” he said. “It was August, so it was ‘figure it all out—and fast’ kind of project.”

With more than 65,000 square feet of sensory experiences for visitors, the museum offers 18 exhibits that immerse individuals in several ways, including through giant inflatables, virtual reality headsets, strobe lights, mirrors, LED screens, and more. Though it is not a permanent fixture, the Balloon Museum offers the opportunity to benefit Dallas in multiple ways, including further acknowledging its status as a well-known and sought-after location.

“It’s nice to have more amenities in the city, and this group has had exhibits around other major cities in the world, so it’s great that Dallas, being a big city, gets to enjoy that, too,” Estrada said.

While Estrada, who has been training for and completed the Houston Marathon yesterday, has not yet been able to visit the Dallas Balloon Museum, he said he certainly intends to do so soon. He believes that it is a place that all individuals can enjoy, regardless of their typical interests.

“If you’re not a museum lover, maybe you’ll find more enjoyment in that it’s not a typical museum,” he said. “It’s fun, different, and interesting, and it provides an experience to visitors, friends, and families.”

For information regarding hours and ticket prices as well as answers to additional questions, you can visit the Dallas Balloon Museum’s FAQ page.

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Happy 200th edition of NatNews, dear readers

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Events

Monday, January 12: Mavs vs. Nets at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, January 13: Once Upon a Punchline at Mic Drop Comedy Plano; Free Rooftop Movie — Sinners at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, January 14: Mavs vs. Nuggets at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, January 15: Brolaroid 2 at Scout Design Studio; Mavs vs. Jazz at the American Airlines Center
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Sunday, January 18: Stars vs. Lightning at the American Airlines Center; Cycling Group Ride at Community Beer Co.; Lara Beitz at Dallas Comedy Club

NatNews: Issue 199

Mon, 05 Jan 2026 12:59:31 +0100

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January 5, 2026

NatNews

ISSUE 199

SAM-I-AM WAS WISE IN ENCOURAGING OTHERS TO EAT EGGS

When it comes to options for breakfast, there are plenty of choices a person can make. One of the wisest decisions to start the morning is to include eggs in the first meal of the day.

Eggs contain several essential nutrients, including vitamins (A, B2, B5, B7, B12, D), selenium, calcium, iron, potassium, zinc, manganese, folate, choline, and much more. They also offer a significant amount of protein and offer an instant feeling of satiety and extra energy that lasts longer throughout the day.

Dallas-area resident Katy Flynn said she eats eggs every single morning, whether she makes them at home or is out for brunch with friends.

“It’s a good way to get your protein in and to fill your belly,” she said. “It’s important to hit my daily protein goal, and this is how I kick-start that.”

Like Flynn, Dallas-area resident Minok Merrick enjoys incorporating eggs into her regular routine. Though she said she doesn’t always eat breakfast, she does like to add eggs to her first meal of the day because of the health benefits they provide.

“I focus on protein, ‘good’ fats, and veggies,” she said. “This helps prevent sugar spikes when you eat carbs, which can make you hungrier later. Your brain also needs healthy fats to function well.”

Research has shown that eggs do not pose significant health risks (cholesterol in eggs doesn’t seem to negatively affect the human body compared to other sources of cholesterol) and are linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. This well-loved breakfast staple is also quite versatile and can be presented in a variety of forms.

Dallas-area resident Greg Cohen, a public health professor at Austin College, not only appreciates eggs for the protein and additional nutrients they offer but also for the different ways he can consume them.

“I mostly eat scrambled eggs because I enjoy the texture,” he said. “I can also enjoy a sunny-side-up egg when it is on a burger and fries, and the yolk drips out. It’s both messy and delicious.”

Flynn said she is also a fan of the versatility eggs offer and often eats them in all kinds of ways, except for hard-boiled. In fact, at the time of answering questions for this article, she was making an egg sandwich.

“It just depends on my mood or the offerings at a restaurant,” she said. “Eggs are a quick and easy meal to make, you don’t have to dirty many dishes, and you can really do anything with them as far as flavor goes.”

Merrick, who joked that she could make an entire cookbook for meals involving eggs, appreciates not only the variety of ways eggs can be prepared but also the ease and lack of excessive time it takes to do so.

“I usually boil a dozen at a time so I can grab them for a quick breakfast or snack, add them to a salad, or make egg salad,” she said. “You can also scramble eggs with any combination of veggies, cheese, or meats or make different styles of omelets.”

Merrick also noted how it is essential not to forget the important role breakfast tacos, which often include eggs, play in our lives.

“They are great any time of day or season,” she said. “They’re fast, convenient, easy to carry, and can be topped with whatever you like.”

And breakfast tacos—as well as any other type of breakfast food, including those involving eggs—are not solely reserved for the morning breakfast meal.

“We love eating breakfast for dinner because it’s fresh, easy, and tasty,” Merrick said. “If you prefer to prepare ahead, you can make an egg casserole or bake eggs in muffin tins. They freeze well and can be reheated whenever you need them.”

No matter what time of day or with what meal an individual enjoys eggs, they offer sufficient nutrients and support an overall healthy well-being, so it’s not a bad idea to start incorporating them into one’s regular diet.

“Eggs are a great source of protein and support good cholesterol, contrary to what people think, and they also have choline and other minerals and antioxidants,” Cohen said. “These are all beneficial when it comes to supporting muscle growth as well as brain and vision health for everyone, including those of us who lift weights, run, and are engaged in physical activity.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Although cows have 32 teeth, they do not have upper front teeth.

AND WHEN YOU GET THE CHOICE TO SIT IT OUT OR DANCE

Whether this is a surprising claim or not, not all people are as confident as Kesha in believing that the party doesn’t start until they walk in and often choose to avoid certain activities and areas (e.g., dancing and the dance floor) in hopes of not drawing attention to themselves.

Dancing can feel personal and bring about insecurities or confidence, and some individuals are more inclined than others to feel comfortable letting loose on the dance floor. Dallas-area resident Kirsten Kraske said she enjoys opportunities to dance, regardless of whether or not other people can see her doing so.

“I think it’s so fun,” she said. “For me, I think it’s because I’m extroverted, I love music, and it makes me feel good.”

Like Kraske, Dallas resident Darryl Radford enjoys showing off his moves and said he is notorious among his friends and family members as someone who doesn’t simply walk but runs to the dance floor when the music starts playing, especially at memorable celebrations for the loved ones in his life.

“My favorite thing about weddings is dancing at receptions—it’s so fun to see everyone let loose and bond over some great music,” he said. “The nervousness about it goes away as soon as others see someone out there and join in. I like to get out there early so that others will have time to shake off their nerves and join. I’m sure they’re thinking ‘if that guy who thinks he can do the worm is out there having fun, surely I can do my little two-step and fit in,’ and that’s exactly what I’m going for.”

Many individuals, however, are rather hesitant to bust any sort of moves on the dance floor when other people with the sense of sight are present. While such reluctance could be a result of social anxiety (according to Yale Medicine, approximately 13 percent of Americans experience social anxiety disorder or various symptoms of social anxiety), it often stems from shyness or self-consciousness, as dancing can ignite the universal human anxiety about being vulnerable in front of others.

“For those who don’t dance often, it feels very personal and soul-baring,” Radford said. “There’s also pressure to be ‘good’ at it, based on what is seen in movies or television, so people get embarrassed about their dancing skills if they don’t think they have the same skills as someone else.”

But Radford said he thinks that everyone is a good dancer as long as the individual is enjoying himself or herself.

“If someone is dancing with a smile and looking confident in whatever they’re doing, I believe it and am here for it,” he said.

Those who are truly fearful of dancing may be struck with chorophobia, which is the fear of dancing and potentially causes individuals to become distressed in situations that involve dancing, isolate themselves in such circumstances, and even avoid attending events that might include dance floors. Others might simply be more afraid of what they look like when dancing and still be able to be around it but not participate.

“It could make people feel self-conscious if they don’t feel they’re good at dancing,” Kraske said. “It might feel awkward, or they just don’t want the judgment from others.”

For those who don’t feel inclined to dance in public, perhaps they can take comfort in the fact that many people on the dance floor are so busy focusing on themselves and their own dancing that they likely aren’t scrutinizing the moves of those around them.

Another concern that may arise for some event or social outing attendees is participating in structured dances in which those on the dance floor seem to know all of the moves or style of dancing, such as during line dances or certain songs, at two-stepping venues, etc. While some people opt to dance to the beats of their own drums, so to speak, others would prefer that those who choose to dance stick to the standards.

“I think if you’ve made the decision to go to a place where you know there’s a specific kind of dancing, you should participate in that type of dancing, whether this be ballroom dancing, a wedding, or country dancing,” Kraske said.

Radford, on the other hand, said he thinks that people should not be restricted by such rules when it comes to participating in specific group or line dances, though he understands that not everyone is of the same mindset.

“I love learning new dances, so I always hop on the floor and try to learn on the fly, but I have been given nasty looks before by people who don’t think I should be out there unless I know the dance already,” he said. “I think that’s dumb because the only way to learn is to try. If someone doesn’t know the dance, they should feel free to participate in their own way, but I would say maybe don’t be in the middle of a group doing a choreographed dance because that could lead to some black eyes and stomped feet.”

Regardless of whether one chooses to dance in step or create new ones that didn’t previously exist, there is something about a dance floor, especially at a wedding or other form of big celebration, that fosters a more collective experience for those enjoying the music together.

“I think dancing creates a place of camaraderie because it can draw in a group of people,” Kraske said.

Radford also thinks that a lively dance floor can truly bring people together and said he enjoys gathering with a group to enjoy dancing together, even when it involves a little persuasion for some individuals.

“My favorite thing is to get non-dancers out and feeling comfortable enough to try or just give in to the moment,” he said. “It doesn’t matter how ‘good’ you are—if you just move however feels right to you and look like you’re having a good time, people will believe you and have a good time with you.”

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NatNews staff, a dear reader, and sweet (and sometimes psycho) pups recently enjoyed a walk on the Katy Trail

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Monday, January 5: National Whipped Cream Day
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Friday, January 9: Josh Abbott at House of Blues Dallas; Electronic Orchestra at SILO Dallas; Sabrina Carpenter Tribute — Tall ‘N Sweet at Legacy Hall
Saturday, January 10: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Mindfulness and Movement Fest at City Park
Sunday, January 11: Wellness Crawl in Bishop Arts; Candlelight — Tribute to Lauryn Hill at Frontiers of Flight Museum

NatNews: Issue 198

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 12:59:29 +0100

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December 29, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 198

STRENGTH TRAINING: A NOT-SO-SECRET FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH?

Regardless of what method of exercise you prefer most, incorporating strength training into your routine is a helpful strategy that can result in joint protection, improved heart health, less likelihood for injuries, an increased metabolism, enhanced mobility, improved mood, sharper thinking, and increased levels of confidence.

Other than the long-term benefits, many individuals also enjoy the way building body strength makes them feel overall. Dallas resident Damon Yousefy said he strength trains six days a week, primarily early in the morning before he goes to work.

“I enjoy getting stronger, feeling sore, and the camaraderie in the gym,” he said. “It feels special knowing I’m part of a group that wakes up before dawn to work out and make ourselves better. The aesthetic benefits and having big muscles are also nice perks. I also love to eat, so increasing my metabolism has been a huge benefit.”

Dallas-area resident Jaclyn Byrom said she strength trains at least three days, sometimes four, each week at Burn Boot Camp, which has a different protocol each day. For Byrom, building strength is in stark contrast to certain expectations that existed in the past.

“I grew up in diet culture,” she said. “As a girl, you worked out to be skinny. Now I strength train to be strong. The thing I enjoy most is when I can pick up a heavier weight than I have previously. It reminds me that I can do hard things.”

Focusing on strength training can also offer some youthful advantages. A recent study published in the journal Biology revealed that incorporating strength training into one’s workout routine on a regular basis can decrease biological aging. Specifically, in the study’s national sample, on average, 90 minutes per week of strength training was associated with 3.9 years fewer in biological aging. The study noted that such exercise results in longer telomeres, protective DNA caps at the ends of chromosomes, slowing cellular aging.

As an avid gymgoer, Yousefy said he certainly believes in the accuracy of the study.

“Strength training keeps us fit, makes our skin tighter, and prevents erosion of bone density, keeping us young,” he said. “The older we get, the more susceptible we are to broken bones, and building strength makes us more durable. Plus, I have more energy thanks to strength training, and that keeps me feeling young.”

As an added youthful benefit, Yousefy said he also appreciates the results his strength training provides him when it comes to the ability to wear fitted shirts as well as other apparel options.

“I think everyone looks better if they exercise, and even a suit looks better if the wearer works out,” he said.

Byrom said she isn’t immune from feeling the effects of the reality of her birth year moving farther and farther away on online drop-down menus, as entering her 40s has caused her to realize how much hormones affect “all of the things,” but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t notice the impact strength training has had in her life.

“I feel stronger than I did in my 20s,” she said. “I am not sure that I feel more youthful, but I think that I am more capable of doing physical things than most people my age.”

Byrom said in addition to the aforementioned benefits, after a recent meniscus surgery, she was able to graduate from physical therapy and rejoin her training several weeks ahead of schedule. But she is also grateful for the ease with which she is able to go about adventures as well as everyday tasks without having to worry about physical limitations.

“I really attribute that (as do my doctors) to my muscle memory from strength training,” she said. “Other benefits are being able to do things like hike, kayak, and jog when we visit new places. The silly things that I notice are that I can do pretty much anything I need to—move things from the attic, carry the groceries in one trip, help move furniture. It sounds simple, but strength training allows me to be my most independent self.”

DID YOU KNOW?

No one is born with freckles. These skin spots, medically known as ephelides, develop later in childhood as a defense mechanism after sun exposure on individuals who are genetically predispositioned.

"ARE YOU FINDING EVERYTHING YOU NEED TODAY?"

The shopping experience certainly looks different today than it did before options such as Amazon, Etsy, and the online sites of essentially every retailer you can imagine existed. Not everything is purchased with a few clicks, though, and sometimes people still find themselves inside buildings with other humans looking to buy whatever it is they need or want at the time.

Such an in-person adventure often involves interacting with other individuals, whether one wants to do so or not. While the use of headphones or talking on the phone can help block the possibility of having to respond with “no, thanks—I’m just looking” when a store employee asks if an individual needs help finding anything, there is still the chance one might need to talk to someone at some point.

There are people who don’t mind having exchanges with employees while they are out shopping, and there are also those who would rather be left completely alone and not even have a store worker ask if they need help of any kind. Dallas-area resident Alexis Derrow said she likes the idea of having a button or other form of alert to indicate when she needs help, but she also said she would rather have an employee ask if she needs assistance rather than not.

“Sometimes you want help and can’t find a person, and that’s worse,” she said. “Then you’re wandering around with an armful of clothes desperate for someone to open a fitting room. When I want help, I want help—pull more clothes for me, suggest sizes, or bring something similar at a different price point.”

Derrow added that she is especially appreciative for a significant amount of help in certain situations that become more complicated and frustrating when she is left on her own.

“Getting a new batch of clothes after you’re in the fitting room is a nightmare,” she said. “That’s why people go shopping with friends—it’s a two-person effort.”

One aspect of Nordstrom of which Derrow has become a fan is its option to use a personal shopper, which is a free service the store provides its customers.

“I love it,” she said. “Sometimes I buy a lot, and sometimes I don’t, but I’ll send her things to buy for me, so she gets the commission if I don’t buy a lot in the personal shopping session.”

However, there are also individuals unlike Derrow who would rather avoid interacting much with anyone when on a retail mission. Dallas resident Drew Mbiam doesn’t think the in-person shopping experience should be completely void of store employees or interactions with such individuals, but he wants any conversations with them to be the result of a choice he makes.

“If it can be avoided, I won’t talk to the people of the store,” he said. “But if I don’t know where something is or need help, store employees are good to have around.”

Target recently implemented a guest engagement program known as the 10-4 policy, which requires employees to make eye contact, smile, wave, and use welcoming body language toward customers who are within 10 feet and to cordially greet those who are within 4 feet. This new requirement for employees was enacted in an effort to improve the customer experience and deepen loyalty among shoppers and as a response to recent sales slumps and negative publicity the company experienced in regard to its decreased diversity initiatives.

While not everyone is on board with Target’s new employee standards, some shoppers still appreciate a little acknowledgment sometimes. Derrow said she thinks store employees should be required at least to ask if a customer needs any assistance.

“I’ve seen salespeople oblivious to someone needing help,” she said. “Ask, ask, ask.”

Mbiam, on the other hand, said if a customer doesn’t have a need to talk to or interact with an employee, then there isn’t a need for the employee to force such a greeting or exchange.

“There should be something like probable cause before people have to talk,” he said. “Setting quotas can incentivize bad behavior.”

After all, many individuals like Mbiam are simply trying to limit the time they are in a place so that they can go about the rest of the day.

“I get in the store and get out in under 5–10 minutes,” he said, “because I get exactly what I want.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

The NatNews girl gang recently cruised the mean streets in style

Upcoming
Events

Monday, December 29: Please tell your people to subscribe to NatNews
Tuesday, December 30: Tom Petty Tribute — American Petty at Granada Theater
Wednesday, December 31: Stars vs. Sabres at the American Airlines Center; Plenty of NYE celebrations throughout Dallas; Rhinestone Rodeo NYE Party at Legacy Hall
Thursday, January 1: Mavs vs. 76ers at the American Airlines Center
Friday, January 2: World Introvert Day; Dustin Nickerson at Addison Improv (also on Saturday)
Saturday, January 3: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Free First Saturdays at the Nasher Museum; Mavs vs. Rockets at the American Airlines Center; Matchbox Twenty Tribute at Legacy Hall
Sunday, January 4: Stars vs. Canadiens at the American Airlines Center; Candlelight — The Wizard of Oz at Edison’s

NatNews: Issue 197

Mon, 22 Dec 2025 12:59:26 +0100

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December 22, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 197

DARK CHOCOLATE: GOOD FOR ONE'S HEART AND MIND

It’s not uncommon to see plenty of treats in every direction throughout the holiday season, with many stores and brands offering themed forms of their candies. When reaching for chocolate treats, though, the more health-conscious option is not your standard milk chocolate.

Dark chocolate contains a much higher content of cocoa flavanol, which offers several health benefits, than milk chocolate. (Flavanol is a specific subgroup of flavonoids, a group of compounds made by plants and found in many fruits and vegetables. Flavanols are present in a variety of plant-based drinks and foods, including tea, berries, apples, and cocoa.)

Some studies have revealed that cocoa flavanols can have positive impacts on blood flow to the brain, improving cognitive function, particularly in young adults, while additional research has found that these plant nutrients have the potential to help maintain brain health in older adults with mild cognitive impairment and reduce the possibility of its progression to dementia.

“Dark chocolate is a great source of cocoa, which provides some fiber and is loaded with minerals like iron, magnesium, copper, and manganese,” Dallas-area resident and registered dietitian Christina Heath said. “It also contains polyphenols, which provide high amounts of antioxidants. Antioxidants help with neutralizing free radicals, which can cause chaos in the body. By neutralizing free radicals, dark chocolate’s antioxidants reduce the chance that our cells and their DNA will get damaged.”

Eating dark chocolate can also help with one’s heart health, potentially lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, which is considered “bad cholesterol,” as it can clog arteries and raise an individual’s risk of cardiovascular diseases if levels become too elevated.

Heath said when selecting dark chocolate to eat, it’s important to look for options with cocoa content of 70 percent or higher so that it most effectively provides the benefits mentioned. It is also less addictive than other forms of chocolate.

“Dark chocolate options are lower in sugar, making it less likely that you’ll eat one right after another,” she said. “Look for bars that contain fewer than 10 grams of added sugar per 1 ounce of chocolate. My favorite brand is Hu because it offers a variety of flavors.”

Heath said in comparison to milk chocolate and white chocolate, dark chocolate is the clear frontrunner in terms of health benefits because of its higher flavanol and content, which means it is higher in antioxidants.

“Milk chocolate contains much less flavanol, and white chocolate contains none,” she said. “Dark chocolate is also a good source of soluble fiber, vitamins, and minerals (e.g., iron, zinc, magnesium, etc.).”

But just because dark chocolate can offer significant advantages to one’s health doesn’t mean that it can be endlessly consumed. Heath said the recommended amount to eat on a daily basis is a single ounce.

“This is about one to two square pieces of chocolate,” she said. “It’s a perfect amount for including dessert without going overboard on sugar consumption.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Sunsets on Mars appear blue as a result of the planet's thin atmosphere scattering red light away.

MAKING SURE THAT HABITS REMAIN HABITUAL

Introducing a new habit for a better overall lifestyle can be challenging, but doing so can also be extremely rewarding.

Not everyone will have the same habits they wish to incorporate, nor will they have the same methods for ensuring that they don’t veer away from the progress they make. For Southern California resident Keziah Kantiok, maintaining a newly formed habit begins with intentionality and structure rather than motivation.

“Motivation comes and goes, so I don’t rely on it,” she said. “I’m very clear about why I’m starting the habit and how it aligns with the version of myself I’m trying to become. If it doesn’t connect to a bigger goal or value, I know I won’t stay consistent.”

Kantiok said she also understands the importance of accountability to help herself stick to a habit she is beginning. That could mean that she is tracking it herself or telling someone she trusts, noting that having something or someone outside of her own head helps keep her honest.

“I also try to remove friction,” she said. “I make the habit as easy to access as possible, whether that’s scheduling it, pairing it with something I already do, or setting clear and realistic expectations. I don’t aim for perfection; I aim for consistency. I’d rather do something imperfectly but repeatedly than do it ‘right’ once and burn out.”

When Dallas-area resident Bill Smith brings a new habit into his life, he first makes an effort to determine what makes the habit enjoyable before creating a plan in achievable components.

“I recently started a 24-week training plan for a marathon,” he said. “Rather than focusing on the full 24 weeks, I broke the training down into segments, with the first goal being a solid half marathon. This builds a reasonable expectation and helps solidify my confidence for the second half of training. Achieving the small segments are big wins along the way to a bigger goal.”

Dallas resident and school counselor Liz Orozco said an effective way for a person to be successful in sticking to a habit is to start with small attainable goals, making it easier for the individual to build from there.

“Planning is key,” she said. “Make an appointment for your habit. We schedule everything else out, and it is important to schedule that time to complete your habit. If your new habit, for example, is to work out in the morning, setting your clothes out the night before can help you follow through. If the new habit is to eat better, planning meals and even meal prepping can help with the success of the new habit.”

While the start of a new year typically sees many individuals make concerted efforts to begin new habits, starting fresh doesn’t have to wait until the calendar changes—and it doesn’t even have to wait until a new week begins. In fact, some therapists pose the notion that beginning a new habit on a Wednesday can help people be more successful in sticking to those habits. The idea is that doing so in the middle of the week creates less pressure or the need for perfectionism, one already has momentum going, the habit almost feels more like an experiment that allows for flexibility, and a feeling of confidence in achieving a small victory can ensue.

However, whether you want to start a habit on a Monday, Wednesday, or any other day that ends in “day” is not the most important matter; rather, the more essential aspects are consistency and persistence.

“I do think if a day or two is missed, don’t wait until the new week to start again,” Orozco said. “Just jump back into it. But definitely allow yourself grace, and don’t beat yourself down if things don’t follow 100 percent of your plan.”

Smith said he thinks when one is able to mentally commit to a habit is the appropriate time to incorporate it, regardless of the day of the week. He also recommends the book Atomic Changes as a helpful read to anyone looking to start a new habit.

“The goal is for you to stick with it,” he said. “Starting small and building consistently is the key. A routine done long enough becomes a habit. Once your habits form, layer on new routines. Small changes now have huge impacts later on.”

Like Smith, Kantiok said she doesn’t think there is necessarily a “best” time for a habit to start, other than one is mentally ready to commit. However, she is not opposed to the Wednesday theory.

“I actually like the idea of starting mid-week or mid-month because it removes the pressure of the ‘fresh start’ mentality,” she said. “Waiting for Monday, the first of the month, or January can turn into procrastination disguised as planning.”

But Kantiok noted that she is also a rather self-aware individual, and she will take what steps she needs to when she believes that she needs to take them.

“If I know I need structure, I’ll intentionally start at a time that supports that, such as after a reset weekend or when my schedule is stable,” she said. “The key for me is not the date but whether I can realistically support the habit where I’m at in life.”

Regardless of when a person forms a new habit for better overall well-being or quality of life, there will certainly be challenges along the way to remain steadfast in that habit and not regress back to one’s old ways.

Many individuals are able to stick to their habits by finding accountability from others in their lives. For Orozco, that means sharing her newly formed habits with close friends and family members and putting a pen to paper.

“I’m very old school, and I like writing out lists,” she said. “Sometimes the mere satisfaction of crossing off things when they are complete helps get you back on track and stay focused.”

In addition to outside factors, intrinsic motivation can also be the source a person needs to ensure that a habit becomes a lasting one. Smith said a person is unable to grow in the space in which he or she is comfortable, and he cited an idea his mother taught him, saying that it is the space between the bars that keeps tigers caged. He said he motivates himself by maintaining a desire not to have regrets for not following through.

“If I make a commitment to myself and don’t keep it, then I have quit not just the change but on me,” he said. “I accept that it’s a privilege to be able to challenge myself. It’s a privilege to wake up and try to be better today than yesterday. Knowing what we possibly could achieve and not going for it is a cage we all can easily put ourselves in. We each hold the keys to our own cells. To keep going, I just try to rattle the keys from time to time.”

Kantiok also knows that comfort zones can be limiting and reminds herself that the discomfort that results from a habit feeling difficult simply means that it’s working. She said she conducts a self-assessment by asking herself whether the challenge is a sign that she needs to quit or a sign that she’s growing—and most of the time, it’s the latter.

“I also give myself permission to adjust without abandoning the habit,” she said. “If I can’t do it at 100 percent, I ask, ‘What’s the minimum I can do today that still keeps me in integrity with myself?’ That mindset keeps me from falling into all-or-nothing thinking.”

Another essential for Kantiok to stay on track when habits feel tougher than expected is reconnecting to her “why.”

“I’ve learned that future me is counting on present me to follow through, even when it’s inconvenient,” she said. “That perspective keeps me moving forward because consistency isn’t about feeling good every day—it’s about honoring commitments I made to myself.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews and our official mascot wish you and your loved ones a merry Christmas or whatever holiday(s) you celebrate

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Monday, December 22: Please tell your people to subscribe to NatNews
Tuesday, December 23: Mavs vs. Nuggets at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — How the Grinch Stole Christmas at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, December 24: National Eggnog Day
Thursday, December 25: Cowboys at Commanders; Mavs at Warriors
Friday, December 26: Dean Stanfield at Dallas Comedy Club (also on Saturday); Led Zeppelin Tribute — The Battle of Evermore at Legacy Hall
Saturday, December 27: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Stars vs. Blackhawks at the American Airlines Center; Candlelight — The Best of Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole at the Irving Arts Center
Sunday, December 28: PWHL Takeover Tour — Seattle Torrent vs. New York Sirens at the American Airlines Center; Holiday-Themed Cycling Group Ride at Community Beer Co.

NatNews: Issue 196

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:59:23 +0100

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December 15, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 196

DON'T IGNORE YOUR PELVIC FLOOR

There are certain parts of the body that aren’t always given significant attention or acknowledgment on a daily basis but that still play integral roles in maintaining one’s physical health.

Hello, pelvic floor.

The pelvic floor serves as a hammock of muscles from the tailbone to the pubic bone, supporting the bladder, bowels, uterus for women, and prostate for men. These muscles, along with other nerves, ligaments, and connective tissues, contribute to core stability and help maintain the function of the bowel, bladder, and sexual systems.

“The pelvic floor muscles act like a trampoline depressing when the pressure in the abdominal area pushes down on it, which happens during every inhale we take,” Katie Overton, a Dallas-based doctor of physical therapy, said. “During our exhale, the pelvic floor muscles recoil and push the pressure in our abdomens back up to assist with getting the air out of our lungs. This trampoline motion happens automatically in our bodies, but it can get a little out of whack with pregnancy, prostate issues, bladder infections, hip or back injuries, jaw tension, and ankle sprains. Seeking care from a pelvic floor physical therapist is the best way to determine the cause of muscle coordination issues.”

Overton said just as individuals keep their arms and legs strong to help with daily tasks, it’s essential to maintain strong and coordinated pelvic floors so that their pelvic functions work correctly.

“Weakness, overuse, or discoordination of the pelvic floor muscles leads to certain pelvic dysfunctions, such as peeing yourself while sneezing or laughing, frequent urination at all hours of the day and night, or even pelvic organ prolapse in which the pelvic organs begin to protrude from the body,” she said.

Overton also said a weak or uncoordinated pelvic floor can result in pain or injuries as well as other issues in the lower back, hips, knees, ankles, and even the neck and jaw.

“It is very important to make sure that you are working on exercises for the pelvic floor to maintain its ability to support the pelvic organs,” she said.

Most people, Overton noted, believe that the only way to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles is by performing Kegels, a term coined in the 1950s by OB-GYN Dr. Arnold Kegel to describe exercises involving the tightening of the pelvic floor muscles. However, Overton said Kegels might not always be the best idea.

“This can actually be detrimental to the pelvic floor because it can overly tighten the muscles, which, in turn, weakens them,” she said. “Think of it like squeezing your bicep muscle as hard as you can with the goal of having toned arms like Jennifer Anniston. Doesn’t really work that well, right? Over the course of the last 75 years, a lot has changed in medicine, including the way we strengthen the pelvic floor. It’s less about ‘strengthening’ the muscles (squeezing them as tightly as possible) and more about improving muscle coordination.”

According to Overton, the key to promoting a healthy pelvic floor with exercise is pressure management. She likened it to a runner trying new shoes that create too much pressure around the toes, leading to friction and blisters.

“It’s very similar to the pelvic floor—bad pressure management in the abdomen can cause issues with the pelvic floor,” she said. “Some of the most common issues with bad pressure management are leakage (peeing your pants), hemorrhoids, and pelvic organ prolapse.”

To improve the health and control of the pelvic floor muscles, Overton said the best first step involves working on diaphragmatic breathing.

“The trampoline movement that happens to the pelvic floor when we breathe also happens to the diaphragm muscle, which sits under the lungs and helps push pressure down into the abdomen with each inhale,” she said. “Improving diaphragm muscle control and working on 360-degree diaphragmatic breathing (not belly breathing) helps improve pressure management in the abdomen and pelvic floor.”

Overton said when it becomes second nature to employ diaphragmatic breathing in a relaxed position, such as when lying down or sitting, it’s time to start adding it to exercise patterns. For a runner, using diaphragmatic breathing while engaging in plyometric exercises will help keep the pelvic floor active throughout one’s run.

For those with previous injuries, Overton recommends seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist to evaluate movement patterns and assess if one’s feet, ankles, knees, hips, or lower back could potentially lead to future pelvic floor issues.

“It’s important to remember that the pelvic floor is part of the whole body, so doing one singular exercise like a Kegel isn’t going to keep the pelvic floor healthy,” she said. “You have to work on the whole body to keep it happy and healthy.”

DID YOU KNOW?

LEGO produces more tires than any tire manufacturer in the world, making approximately 306 million miniature tires annually for its toy sets. For comparison, Michelin produces around 200 million tires each year.

FINDING YOUR SOCIAL SWEET SPOT, ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS

Being social can certainly be fun, but it can also begin to feel stressful or tiring at times. Many people are quick to describe themselves as “busy,” not leaving an extensive amount of time for them to devote extra hours to certain social situations. There are also times, though, when it’s not even the busy lifestyle or particular obligations that get in the way—it’s the lack of capacity within a person to engage in social activities.

Hinge recently released a “Social Energy Study” indicating that approximately 45 percent of individuals globally don’t fully understand their own social limits, and 38 percent of people begin to feel drained after two to three hours of socializing.

Your social “sweet spot” is the amount of time you can spend around others before you lose energy, become overstimulated, or feel emotionally checked out. Such a timeframe isn’t universal—it varies based on different individuals and personality types as well as the activities and people involved in the social environment. Dallas resident Suzanne Woodling said her social sweet spot typically depends on the people who are present in the setting in which she finds herself.

“I’m good for about an hour and a half to two hours if it’s a larger group (running club, work, etc.), but a small group of two to three close friends in a more intimate or quieter setting I can enjoy for much longer,” she said.

Some individuals feel energized and excited when they are surrounded by people, while others prefer quieter settings and more time to themselves. There are also those who are a mix of social personality types and like to find somewhat of a balance between introversion and extroversion tendencies.

“As an extroverted introvert, I have a very short fuse before my battery is drained,” Dallas-area resident Kyle Burnett said. “I’m probably good for an hour and a half, and then I become a wallflower.”

Dallas resident Carolyn Fan, an ER doctor, said she considers herself generally more extroverted than many other individuals, though she certainly needs some time to decompress after working a nine-hour shift at the hospital during which she spends a significant amount of time talking and interacting with people.

“I feel a little bit drained after my job and usually need an hour or two of alone time before I can socialize again,” she said. “On days that I’m not working, I am very enthusiastic about seeing people. There have been times when I have been traveling or doing something very social when I can feel drained, though, and I usually just Irish exit. Overall, based on my traveling experience in a hostel and having to meet new people, I think three days is usually my max before I want an hour or two of alone time.”

And even though Fan enjoys being social, she said her ideal situation for such a setting is talking with others in groups of fewer individuals.

“I like having good deep conversations, either in one-on-one chats or with a small group of people,” she said. “I don’t do the best with large groups of people, but if there was a party or large social gathering, people naturally tend to branch off into smaller groups. I usually like house parties, and I love meeting new people.”

Fan also said the setting is not what is most important to her. Instead, her desire to be more social is generally determined by the people who are around her at whatever gathering or event she attends.

“Those who have similar interests or hobbies or who are very different and interesting fascinate me,” she said. “I tend to like people with different sets of values and beliefs to help expand my own thoughts and beliefs.”

Crowds can often be overwhelming for some people, and preferences regarding social settings can also change in different stages of a person’s life. What was once fun and exciting in college and throughout one’s 20s can feel a bit more exhausting in the 30s and beyond. An ideal social setting is simply a matter of preference for the individual opting to attend.

“I really don’t like large group settings and loud spaces,” Woodling said. “I like a small group, even just a one-on-one situation, and meaningful conversations.”

Like Woodling, Burnett prefers to be able to feel more comfortable and surrounded by people he knows on deeper levels.

“My ideal social setting is with a core group of friends where I can just be me,” he said.

During this time of year, there are plenty of festivities (e.g., family get-togethers, work celebrations, parties hosted by friends, etc.) that put attendees in situations in which they might feel like they must socialize with others if they don’t want to seem standoffish. For someone with a similar social personality style as Burnett, such circumstances can create anxiety or the need to get oneself ready mentally.

“During the holiday season, I definitely have to plan ahead and ‘prepare’ for the gatherings,” he said.

As a general practice, including throughout the holidays, Fan said she likes to spend some time on her own to decompress and recharge by exercising/working out, as it allows her to have personal time all on her own.

“It gives me a chance to think and be by myself,” she said. “I also always joke to my friends that if I’m traveling with someone, I need some nonverbal alone time.”

Throughout the holiday season, Woodling said she makes concerted efforts to limit the number of parties she attends and surround herself with genuine friends and those individuals who bring her joy and energize her.

“I’m not really into holiday hype,” she said. “The hustle and bustle drain me, and I want to stay in my safe place with my dogs and/or close friends.”

There’s no requirement for a person to attend gatherings or stay for a certain period of time. Each individual often needs to do what is best for him or her in terms of lifestyle and/or emotional capacity. For Woodling, sometimes she simply needs to shut down for a bit.

“I don’t really care about the optics,” she said. “I do what I want and really try not to subject myself to situations or people who drain me. I’m old, and I don’t care anymore.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews supports the love of animals, so here is a picture of a horse grazing and enjoying some sunshine

Upcoming
Events

Monday, December 15: Stars vs. Kings at the American Airlines Center; Addison Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 26–36) at Hawkers Asian Street Food
Tuesday, December 16: Free Rooftop Movie — Last Holiday at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, December 17: National Maple Syrup Day
Thursday, December 18: Mavs vs. Pistons at the American Airlines Center; Board Game Night at The 2nd Tap at the Dallas Farmers Market; Candlelight — Christmas Carols on Strings at Edison’s
Friday, December 19: Dave Chappelle at the American Airlines Center; A Soulful Christmas with KEM at Winspear Opera House; Rocky Mountain High Experience — A John Denver Christmas at the Eisemann Center; The Improvised Hallmark Christmas Movie at Stomping Ground Comedy Theater
Saturday, December 20: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Pawlidays in the Bark Market at Community Beer Co.; Jazz at the Museum at the Dallas Museum of Art; Shane & Shane Holiday Concert at The OC Arena; Le Freak at Legacy Hall; Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the American Airlines Center (second show at 7:30 p.m.)
Sunday, December 21: Cowboys vs. Chargers at AT&T Stadium; Stars vs. Maple Leafs at the American Airlines Center; Cliff Cash at Dallas Comedy Club

NatNews: Issue 195

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 12:59:24 +0100

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December 8, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 195

PILATES: CHALLENGING INDIVIDUALS WHILE OFFERING PHYSICAL + MENTAL BENEFITS

It can be challenging to branch out and try new activities—especially with a practice such as Pilates, in which the intensity seems high, and a contraption such as a reformer looks like it could send a person flying straight into surrounding windows or mirrors in a studio—but sometimes taking that first step can create lasting positive change.

Pilates offers several benefits, including balance and flexibility, improved posture, mental clarity and focus, development of muscle strength, and better overall well-being. Dallas-area resident Morgan Fritz, who regularly takes Pilates classes at Session Pilates (multiple locations throughout Dallas, Plano, and Frisco and now one in Nashville), said she began incorporating Pilates into her workout routine during grad school when her favorite professor at Auburn University mentioned that the school was adding a Pilates club.

“I had never really heard of reformer Pilates, and so I wanted to try it out,” she said. “I did it for a while once I first got back to Texas and then stopped basically as soon as I started my first big-girl job. Once things settled down, I got back into it again and am 108 classes down. I love it.”

Fritz said one thing she enjoys most about her particular Pilates studio she frequents most often is the overall vibe.

“It’s so girly and chic and makes me want to be the best, healthiest version of myself,” she said. “I also feel like Pilates mirrors cheerleading in some ways with the flexibility component. It kind of feels like a natural progression from being a cheerleader or dancer to working out as an adult.”

But Pilates is not only for women or those with specific backgrounds. Dallas resident Drew Johnson initially began taking Pilates when his girlfriend, who is an instructor, encouraged him to take one of her classes. More than a year later, he has become a routine Pilates participant and has truly come to appreciate the opportunity to show up for each class he takes.

“I remember how difficult my first class was and how lost I was, but I’ve grown to really enjoy the challenge of Pilates,” he said.

Johnson said what he values most about the practice is the variety it offers.

“Compared to HIIT classes or lifting weights, Pilates gives me a completely different kind of challenge—one that’s slower, more intentional, and focused,” he said. “I love how each class demands mental concentration. Instead of rushing through reps, I get to hyper-focus on specific muscle groups and feel them working in a controlled, purposeful way. That combination of variety and mindfulness is what keeps me coming back.”

Johnson’s aforementioned girlfriend, Dallas resident Laura Hays (who is a full-time CPA and teaches Pilates for the enjoyment it provides) said she first added Pilates to her life to complement her running regimen years ago.

“I felt I had gotten too skinny and wanted to rebuild some curves,” she said. “After various running injuries, Pilates became my focus, offering a low-impact option with high results.”

Hays said Pilates now holds the top spot as her favorite form of exercise because of its versatility and effectiveness

“The reformer offers a wide variety of exercises to keep routines interesting, and it works muscles you didn’t even know you had,” she said. “I have been a member at The PilatesBarre for more than 10 years and an instructor for two and a half.”

Research has indicated that Pilates can not only improve balance, resistance, strength, and flexibility but can also result in positive effects on stress and psychological symptoms, helping individuals struggling with anxiety and depression. And scholars aren’t the only ones who notice such impacts—participants can see and feel the changes that take place in their bodies and minds, as well.

“Physically, Pilates has helped me build strength in a deeper, more targeted way, especially in my core,” Johnson said. “I feel muscles engage that I normally wouldn’t even think about during traditional workouts. It’s improved my mobility, core control, and overall body awareness. Mentally, the focus on slow, controlled movements has become almost meditative. Because you really have to concentrate, it pulls you into the present moment. It’s a workout that challenges my body and my mind in the best way.”

Like Johnson, Fritz appreciates the way Pilates has created obvious changes in her overall physiological and psychological functions, noting how quickly she began noticing results.

“I could actually see how much easier particular moves were getting because I was getting stronger,” she said. “Mentally, it keeps me on track. It’s part of my routine now, and I really look forward to it.”

Walking into a Pilates studio where everyone else seems to know what he or she is doing can certainly create hesitancy in a person, but Fritz advises those who might have a little anxiety or apprehension simply to try it without overthinking anything.

“Remind yourself that the first class is the hardest,” she said. “Everything gets easier the more you do it.”

Hays, whose teaching schedule can be found online at the Devonshire location and the University Park location, said the reformer can appear intimidating to beginners, and some of the moves have names such as “dancing bear,” “mermaid,” and “reverse spider,” but she advises individuals not to let such things deter them from taking that first class.

“It definitely takes several classes to get comfortable, but it’s also addicting once you do,” she said. “I love seeing new clients progress and learn advanced moves. If you’ve ever wanted to try it, please come take a class with me.”

Johnson said his biggest piece of advice for someone who wants to try Pilates but might feel a bit hesitant is not to let the intimidation factor Hays mentioned stop him or her from signing up and attending.

“Pilates can look foreign at first—especially the equipment, which is so different from anything you see in a typical gym—but that’s exactly why it’s worth trying,” he said. “Everyone starts somewhere, and instructors are incredibly good at guiding beginners and adjusting movements to your level.”

Johnson also said a person walking into a Pilates studio doesn’t need experience, perfect form, or even an abundance of confidence in what he or she is doing.

“Pilates is designed to teach you control, alignment, and awareness over time,” he said. “If anything, being new means you’ll learn the foundations the right way from the start. Go in with an open mind, embrace the learning curve, and you might be surprised by how much you enjoy the variety and the focused, intentional feel of the workouts.”

DID YOU KNOW?

The term “heartfelt” is connected to Aristotle’s philosophy that the heart is the primary organ for feeling and action, gathering sensory input through the blood vessels, giving rise to emotions.

HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU WASH YOUR JEANS?

If you put on a pair of jeans for the who-knows-what-the-number-is time and can’t remember the last day you washed them, it might not actually be a bad thing. While general hygiene and cleanliness are fairly important, there are times when certain clothing items can be thrown into the washing machine unknowingly more often than they should be.

It does bring to light the question, then, of how frequently one should wash a pair of jeans.

Dallas-area resident Sarah Wilson said she wears jeans approximately three times a week and washes each pair after she wears them, generally doing laundry every other day.

“They can go a few days without being washed, but I still like wearing clean laundry,” she said.

Dallas-area resident Adrian Acevedo said he doesn’t wear jeans as much as he used to because he now more so prefers athleisure pants, but when he does don some jeans, he washes them after wearing them three times.

“I don’t feel like it’s good to wash them each time I use them since it will wear out the jeans,” he said.

He is accurate in that assessment, as frequent washing can ruin the type of denim and lead to much more rapid fading. And according to Martha Stewart’s apparel experts, too much time in the washing machine and dryer can break down denim’s fibers through abrasion, causing the fabric to wear prematurely.

Dallas-area resident David Recker said he finds himself in jeans every day, especially now that he is back in the office three days each week, and “manufacturing business casual” translates to a workday ensemble of jeans and a polo shirt. Recker has previously read about denim wearing out with too much washing, so he doesn’t keep a rigid record of how many times he’s worn any particular pair.

“I wash them every few months, unless they are visibly dirty or pick up a particularly gnarly odor,” he said. “I have a few pairs of jeans of different colors and washes that I rotate regularly, matching with the shirt or jacket I’m wearing, so I don’t wear the same pair every day.”

Obviously not every article of clothing should be treated the same as jeans. Recker said he washes underwear, undershirts, T-shirts, socks, and workout/running clothes after every wear, as it’s important to clean off sweat, body oil, and “pit-funk buildup.”

“With polos, collared shirts, etc., if you wear an undershirt underneath, every few wears is generally fine, unless they are smelly or visibly dirty,” he said. “But they aren’t as exposed to sweat and body oils.”

Other individuals, including Acevedo, though, prefer to wash other items of clothing following every single wear.

“It’s important to wash your clothes that are dirty, sweaty, or used throughout the day,” he said. “It doesn’t make sense if you’re not washing your clothes after each time.”

However, Acevedo believes that the frequency of washing jeans is more of a personal preference than a hygiene concern.

“I don’t think jeans get dirty enough or as dirty as other clothes to wash them every time,” he said.

Wilson, on the other hand, prefers to wash all clothes after each time she has worn them for sanitary reasons. For her, this includes jeans.

“I would say it’s more of a hygienic practice because jeans can get really dirty, even though they’re durable,” she said.

Some clothing experts pose the notion that jeans only need to be washed every 10 or so wears to maintain cleanliness while also avoiding weakening the fabric and frazzling the appearance. This is good news for Recker and others who opt to toss their jeans in the washing machine less often. There are certainly exceptions, though.

“In general, I think pants, especially denim, don’t need to be washed as frequently because of the materials they’re made out of,” he said. “But definitely wash them if they don’t pass the smell check.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff, a dear reader, and some hockey-loving friends recently enjoyed a festive celebration together

Upcoming
Events

Monday, December 8: National Brownie Day
Tuesday, December 9: Bonsai Bar at Celestial Beerworks; Holiday Sip 'N' Paint at the Addison Performing Arts Centre; Free Rooftop Movie — Almost Christmas at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, December 10: Erykah Badu at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Thursday, December 11: Candlelight — The Best of Frank Sinatra & Nat King Cole at the Irving Arts Center; Gunna at The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
Friday, December 12: Mavs vs. Nets at the American Airlines Center; Merry Night Market at Griggs Park; Matthew Broussard at Dallas Comedy Club (also on Saturday)
Saturday, December 13: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Holiday Onesie Party at Truck Yard Dallas; Dallasites101 9th Annual Naughty or Nice Santa Bar Crawl on Lower Greenville; Arkansas vs. Tech (NCAA basketball) at the American Airlines Center; Stars vs. Panthers at the American Airlines Center
Sunday, December 14: BMW Dallas Marathon at Dallas City Hall Plaza; Knox Street Holiday Celebration (also on Saturday); Cowboys vs. Vikings at AT&T Stadium; Cowboys vs. Vikings Watch Party at Legacy Hall

NatNews: Issue 194

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 12:59:24 +0100

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December 1, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 194

THAT POST-RACE GRIEF IS REAL SOMETIMES

Sometimes a personal achievement that leaves one feeling joy and pride can then cause a sudden unexpected sadness.

Just as individuals go through grieving processes after losing loved ones or ending relationships, people can also experience senses of loss after preparing for and accomplishing significant goals, including completing races such as marathons, ultras, triathlons, etc.

The post-race blues are real and can impact a person both mentally and physically. Throughout a training period, the body and brain become accustomed to specific habits and routines, and once that training ends during the recovery days following the goal race or event, the body and brain are then forced to adapt to new patterns, even if it’s only a temporary stretch of time before a new training cycle begins.

Dallas resident Keith Jensen is a former collegiate runner who has completed an IRONMAN triathlon, the rim-to-rim-to-rim hike at the Grand Canyon, summited Mount Rainier, and recently completed the Big Bear Kodiak 100K. Each of these feats required extensive preparation of his mind and body, and Jensen said he experiences a sense of loss every time the high from the accomplishment fades.

“The finish line is bittersweet for me,” he said. “The joy is there, but it’s also the end of something I love—the build, the daily grind, the discipline, the doubt, the long efforts, the full immersion in the process, and then the race itself. When it’s over, the sadness comes from losing the rhythm and purpose that carried me through the cycle.”

Despite that emotional shift, Jensen said he understands the need to take time to let himself recover—in both a mental and physical capacity—after so much regimented training for so long.

“I shut down running completely,” he said. “I move to cross-training, incline walking, and strength work. I loosen up on my diet and let my body and mind decompress. I don’t plan the next race right away. I let the experience of the last one settle and point me toward whatever feels meaningful next.”

For Dallas resident Amara Saucedo, an avid runner who recently completed the Marine Corps Marathon last month, the end of a goal race serves as somewhat of a stepping stone to future achievements rather than a reason to grieve over walking away from the finish line.

“I usually theme each marathon or training cycle, and that helps me work through the process as I go,” she said. “When the event is over, it becomes more of a reflection phase—looking back at what worked, what needed to change, and what the experience taught me. It feels less like a void and more like closing one chapter so I can reset and get ready for the next.”

And while the recovery process for one person might mean complete rest or taking part in activities other than running or whatever workouts were dominant during the previous training block, it could look completely different for someone else, including Saucedo, who has a run streak of almost 1,800 days that she is trying to keep going.

“For me, it’s about keeping the body moving in a way that feels supportive instead of stressful,” she said.

Saucedo said staying active actually helps her recover more quickly.

“I’ll switch to low, slow miles paired with light HIIT and body-weight training for about four to six weeks—enough to let my body reset while still honoring the rhythm I’ve built,” she said.

Allowing the mind and body to recover after a race or event that took a toll on one’s body over a period of time is essential to protect one’s mental health and avoid injury. Yale Medicine recommends resting but not remaining completely idle and remembering that the end of one race doesn’t mean that there needs to be a sense of finality, as there are future goals and accomplishments one can make during the recovery period.

For Jensen, taking his recovery seriously is a form of commitment to his body.

“If I push it through a big effort, I owe it a real break—a full physical and mental reset,” he said. “Indulge a little. Let everything heal. Let the mind clear. That pause is what lets me start the next build fresh, healthy, and fully committed, instead of dragging fatigue or pressure from the last cycle.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Though pigeons are highly common in urban areas throughout the U.S., they are not native to North America but were brought to the area by European settlers in the 1600s.

WHAT IS YOUR GO-TO MUSIC STREAMING PLATFORM?

Music often serves as an integral component in people’s lives for a variety of reasons—whether as a form of entertainment, an appreciation for art and the musician creators, experiencing meaning and emotions from the lyrics and messages, and several other purposes.

Regardless of the reason, songs and artists can impact people in significant ways, creating senses of connection and belonging.

“I listen to music every day for most of the day,” Dallas-area resident Brandy Washington said. “It’s like my mood ring and my personal soundtrack. I can listen to a song, and I’m instantly transported to the first time I heard it.”

Dallas resident Erasmo Estrada said he believes that music is incredibly important and, like Washington, listens to it on a daily basis.

“It is the art of time using noises,” he said. “How neat is that? It is there for any and all moods. Do you need to pump yourself up? Do you want to get in your feels? Do you want to groove? Do you want to chill? Focus? Going to concerts is one of my favorite things to do.”

Music can also serve as a way to provide pleasant sounds to take one’s mind off of other tasks or surrounding noises.

“I listen to music on my commute to and from work and some while I run/work out,” Dallas-area resident Steven Gorena said. “Music fills the lull in my day and keeps me focused while driving.”

Though many individuals enjoy incorporating music into their daily routines, they certainly don’t all use the same platform to do so. With options such as Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, TIDAL, Pandora, and more, the source of one’s songs often becomes a matter of personal preference. Most platforms offer free versions that are not all-inclusive and paid subscriptions with more unlimited access. For Estrada, Spotify is the way to go.

“I’ve had Spotify since I was in college when it seemed like the main one,” he said. “It’s always worked pretty well, has the history of any playlists I’ve made, and now has as a family plan. It also has any artist I want to listen to.”

Those with iPhones already have access to Apple Music but can opt to pay extra for the plan that allows for access to millions of songs and exclusive artists and playlists as well as the ability to download music for offline listening and listen across multiple devices. Gorena said he prefers Apple Music and has the subscription as part of an Apple bundle plan that includes storage, music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+.

“I’m already paying for it, so why wouldn’t I use it?” he said. “It’s learning my likes and curating music stations based on my most or recently listened-to music. It will sometimes lead me to new and similar artists I’m listening to. I’m sure other platforms do something similar, but it’s a feature I like.”

Recent research indicates that 89 percent of total music industry revenue comes from streaming services, with the average user spending more than 20 hours listening to music each week. Spotify is currently the leader in the music streaming market (with almost a 32-percent share), followed by Tencent Music (14.4 percent, operating in the Chinese market) and Apple Music (approximately 12.6 percent).

The aforementioned TIDAL, which is a global platform that prides itself on being artist-first and fan-centered to bring fans closer to artists, might not be as popular as those topping the industry, but it still has a dedicated following, including Washington.

“I prefer TIDAL because it gives more money to the artists for streaming than Spotify does,” she said. “Also, its custom mixes are elite.”

The year is coming to a close, so you can expect to see the Spotify Wrapped dominating people’s Instagram stories. The company began this trending marketing campaign in 2016 to show users’ activity/listening data over the course of the past year, and individuals tend to enjoy being able to see their personal listening trends and share them with their followers. Spotify is not the only platform to provide such analytics, though.

“TIDAL tells me both monthly stats and those at the end of the year,” Washington said. “I like it because I can see themes based on my top streaming songs.”

While some individuals enjoy sharing their recaps on social media, like Washington, Estrada more so appreciates an outside perspective of his listening habits. However, he said a person doesn’t always have to opt to include all of his or her audio experiences.

“Stats are fun for me,” he said. “Sometimes I may not want some instrumental music I use to focus to go on the list, but you can ask the apps not to record those stats if you care enough.”

Apple Music listeners are able to see their personalized analytics with the Apple Music Replay, which is essentially a highlight reel of the most played songs, artists, and albums that were prevalent throughout an individual’s year. And people are sometimes even a little surprised by what their stats reveal.

“I love the year-end recaps and like to see more of the analytics of my listening at the end of the year,” Gorena said. “The current winner this year is Tyler the Creator. I thought it was going to be Kendrick.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff, our sole investor, and dear readers recently enjoyed catching up and watching a holiday movie together

Upcoming
Events

Monday, December 1: Let’s Fly — Art Has No Limits at the Balloon Museum; National Eat a Red Apple Day
Tuesday, December 2: Free Rooftop Movie — The Holiday at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, December 3: Mavs vs. Heat at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, December 4: Cowboys vs. Lions Watch Party at Legacy Hall; Ken Jones + Tommy Dangerfield at the Dallas Comedy Club; Andrea Bocelli at the American Airlines Center
Friday, December 5: Stars vs. Sharks at the American Airlines Center; Addison Holiday Tree Lighting at Addison Circle Park; Caitlin Peluffo at Dallas Comedy Club (also on Saturday); FIFA World Cup Draw Party at Billy Bob’s Texas; The Village Main Street Fest Holiday Market at The Village Dallas
Saturday, December 6: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Champs Run Club Dallas — Holiday Run & Festivities at Champs Sports; Tree Lighting Celebration at Klyde Warren Park; Puppy Yoga at Community Beer Co.; DMA First Free Saturdays at the Nasher; Teddy Bear Party at On the Levee; Vienna Light Orchestra Christmas Tour at Music Hall at Fair Park
Sunday, December 7: First Free Sundays — Access for All at the Dallas Museum of Art Swinging for a Cause at Globe Life Field; Christmas Market at Legacy Hall; Stars vs. Penguins at the American Airlines Center; Candlelight — Tribute to Taylor Swift at Frontiers of Flight Museum

NatNews: Issue 193

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 12:59:24 +0100

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November 24, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 193

PERHAPS IT'S TIME TO ADD DARK SHOWERING TO YOUR LIFE

For many individuals, there is something completely calming and relaxing about taking a shower, especially when done so in the evening. The idea of warm water washing away stress and anything negative from the day helps put people at ease before they put one day behind them and move on to the next.

A newer concept of this cleansing ritual is known as “dark showering,” which has started trending and becoming a more common practice for many individuals. Dark showering is essentially exactly what it sounds like—showering in darkness or much dimmer lighting. (Please note that it is extremely important to make sure that you are still able to navigate your shower safely and not in a situation in which you can slip and fall or injure yourself some other way.)

Showering in softer lighting can help the nervous system calm down and reduce the body’s stress response. Additional benefits include fostering a state of peace, improving one’s sleep, enhancing mindfulness, and resetting one’s mood.

Dallas resident and counselor Lucy Keith said she doesn’t necessarily have a set shower schedule in terms of what time of day, as showers are often necessary for various reasons, such as after sweaty workouts or when simply needing to feel ready for a full day or quality night of sleep.

“Sometimes the morning showers are great for energizing, especially with a blast of cold water at the end, and sometimes the warm evening showers can kickstart winding down,” she said.

Keith said she only recently heard about the concept of dark showering and hasn’t tried it yet but plans to do so soon.

“I’m big on lighting, in that adjusting both the lighting in your home and exposing yourself to the natural day-to-night/night-to-day transitions outside can really help regulate your circadian rhythm and signal to your body when it’s time to wake up or sleep,” she said. “It’s kind of a joke in my family, but I can’t stand overhead lights. Lamps all the way. Dark showering sounds like something I’d be into.”

Dallas-area resident Wesley Sheridan said he takes a quick morning shower after his 5 a.m. workout before going to the office and then takes a longer shower at night because he likes feeling clean before getting into bed. Like Keith, Sheridan is not too familiar with dark showering but is a bit intrigued by the idea.

“I’ve never heard of it, but I would definitely give it a shot,” he said. “Although, my bathroom is kind of an on/off situation when it comes to lighting.”

In such lighting situations as Sheridan’s, lamps, nightlights, or candles can be used to create the soft illumination needed for the effectiveness of dark showering.

Life is filled with moments of chaos and anxiety, and it’s not uncommon to hear people talk about how constantly busy they are. Unsurprisingly, such a reality can leave people feeling rather run down and in need of solace, and dark showering serves as an option for finding this kind of relief.

When Sheridan has had a day that leaves him feeling a bit drained, he said he has a helpful nightly routine of prepping his clothes for the gym and work the next day, making his pre-workout water bottle, showering, and either going to sleep early or reading and meditating before letting his head hit his pillow. He said he believes that there could be potential advantages to taking that evening shower in darker lighting conditions.

“I’m a big fan of the 10-3-2-1-0 rule, and it seems like dark showering lines up with it,” he said.

The 10-3-2-1-0 concept Sheridan mentioned consists of not drinking caffeine 10 hours before sleeping, no food or alcohol three hours before bed, no work two hours prior to sleep, no screen time an hour before bed, and zero taps of the snooze button when the alarm goes off in the morning.

Keith said she has a number of go-to ways—including lifting weights, walks, couch cuddles with her dog, hot tea, prayer and journaling, and overall reduced noise and phone use—that she prefers to wind down after an exhausting day. She also said she absolutely thinks adding a dimly lit shower to the list could be beneficial.

“Sometimes after a long day or multiple days of stress, high-stimulation, and too much computer screen time, I could also see how showering in the dark/low light would instantly cut out visual stimulations and put you in a more present, sensory state of mindfulness,” she said. “That sounds pretty ideal before bedtime.”

DID YOU KNOW?

It’s estimated that there are more than 2,000 types of cheeses in the world.

SHOULD HOLIDAYS ALWAYS BE TRADITIONAL?

It’s Thanksgiving week, but you’ve probably already seen plenty of Christmas and different holiday decor throughout Target and various other stores. Simply put, ‘tis the season.

For many individuals, the holidays include one or several traditions that occur annually during this time of year. While some people like to change things up and create new ways of celebrating, others prefer to stick to what they’ve always done.

Dallas resident Virginia Altick said her favorite holiday tradition is the white elephant gift exchange with her dad’s side of the family. She said it is not simply useful or thoughtful gift giving, though—the goal is to attempt to outdo one another each year.

“Last year, I opened the largest gift in the pile, which turned out to be an enormous print of Seinfeld’s George Costanza in his tighty whities on a chaise lounge,” she said. “Apparently, it had hung in my cousin’s roommate’s ex-boss’ office. I was not about to keep that at my house, so I managed to find someone who wanted to play a joke on her husband, George. Then, she re-gifted it to a friend of hers, too. It was truly a gift that kept on giving.”

Altick said she is certainly team traditions, as she believes that it is enjoyable to create experiences that are expected and continued every year.

“When you don’t get to do the tradition, it feels like something is missing,” she said. “For instance, this is going to be the first year my mom’s side of the family doesn’t do Christmas morning stockings at my grandmother’s house. She used to line the stair handrail with everyone’s stocking, which was both decorative and functional. She just passed away at almost 99 years old, so we will have to honor her tradition in our own way.”

Like Altick, Dallas resident Jenny Schultz prefers to keep certain holiday traditions going on an annual basis. Schultz even likes to begin hers as soon as the feeling of fall sets in so that she gets in true holiday spirit for a longer period of time.

“I love listening to Christmas music all day every day from late October through New Year’s,” she said. “I also love making baked goods and jams for our neighbors and friends. These traditions get me in the mood for all things Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

Though she likes traditional activities and celebrations, Schultz said they don’t always need to be the exact same every November and December.

“With two young boys, I have to adapt and change small things each year,” she said.

Different individuals often value certain traditions for their own unique reasons. For Schultz, traditions are connections to our pasts.

“Making cookies my grandmother made or the chicken and dressing that my great grandmother made is special to me,” she said. “It is a way to remember and share a small piece of people who are no longer with us with my boys.”

For Altick, traditions allow for predictability and expectation that are welcomed in a time that can often feel hectic and overwhelming.

“With all of the things you have to do during the holidays, like preparing food or shopping for gifts, it is helpful to already know what you’re going to do,” she said. “So, I think a tradition is one less thing that has to be planned or communicated.”

Another aspect of the holidays that is often consistent for many people is the “traditional” Thanksgiving meal. Some individuals love being able to sit down to a full plate of turkey and all of the other fixings, while others who are more like Chandler Bing would prefer to eat macaroni and cheese or foods not typically eaten at Thanksgiving. Altick, however, is not one who wants to stray from what many American families will eat on November’s fourth Thursday each year.

“Give me the turkey, gravy, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potato mash, butter rolls, and pumpkin pie,” she said. “I have no complaints with this comfort food. I would eat it again at Christmas, too. Being that I only have this kind of meal once, maybe twice a year, I don’t mind and actually like it.”

Like Altick, Schultz enjoys traditional Thanksgiving food and said she sometimes even craves it during the summertime. She does think it’s sometimes OK to veer slightly, though.

“I feel like you can try a new dish or two, as long as you keep the traditional elements of the meal,” she said. “I would not be one to have pizza on Thanksgiving, but I am fine if we make green beans in a form other than casserole.”

There’s no requirement that one must stick to what many people consider staple components at Thanksgiving meals, though. If a person wants quesadillas on the holiday, that person can eat quesadillas. Dallas-area resident Stephanie Hone said she doesn’t understand why traditional Thanksgiving foods have become the standard.

“What’s the point?” she said. “Over the years, I’ve realized I don’t really eat much of the food. Stuffing? No. Cranberries? No. The only thing I actually maybe enjoy is mashed potatoes, but even those aren’t my favorite form of potatoes.”

And by no means is she alone in her viewpoint.

“At work the other day, they asked who would actually prefer Tex-Mex over Thanksgiving food, and about half of the room raised their hands,” she said. “It also bugs me because I tend to feel that Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas dinner are pretty much the same. There’s not much variance, and that doesn’t make sense to me.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff and sister and niece besties recently enjoyed a lovely fall morning scooter/walk adventure together

Upcoming
Events

Monday, November 24: 37th Annual Carol of Lights in Historic Downtown Grapevine; Burna Boy at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, November 25: Free Rooftop Movie — Fast & Furious 6 at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, November 26: Mystery at the Masquerade — Murder Mystery Dinner at Mesa Mezcal
Thursday, November 27: Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot at City Hall; Scheels North Texas Turkey Trot in downtown Frisco; Cowboys vs. Chiefs at AT&T Stadium
Friday, November 28: Stars vs. Mammoth at the American Airlines Center; Skyrocket! — 80s Night at Legacy Hall
Saturday, November 29: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Cornhole Tournament at Community Beer Co.; Dallas String Quartet at Vitruvian Lights
Sunday, November 30: Stars vs. Senators at the American Airlines Center

NatNews: Issue 192

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 12:59:24 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

November 17, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 192

THE POTATO—A VERSATILE VEGETABLE THAT BRINGS PEOPLE JOY

While not all vegetables will create an overload of excitement for many people, there is one vegetable that often outshines others because of its wide range and versatility.

The potato has not just entered the chat—it’s been here in multiple forms the entire time.

Whether baked, twice-baked, roasted, scalloped, mashed, au gratin, in tot or French fry form, or a number of other presentations, potatoes are everywhere. One might begin to wonder about the nutritional value of such a multifaceted food. Denver resident and registered dietitian Lyndsey Kohn said potatoes are great sources of complex carbohydrates and bring added benefits in that they are affordable and rather easy to prepare, and she enjoys them in a variety of forms.

“I love a good baked potato or roasting russet baby potatoes with olive oil and herbs or salt and pepper,” she said. “Sweet potatoes are also a staple I buy on my grocery run. Potatoes can get a bad rap for being unhealthy based on how they are cooked, unfortunately, but they can be good for you and are very allergen-friendly and easy on the stomach.”

Kohn said one particular way she prefers to eat potatoes is roasting them, which helps bring out the natural flavors without adding fat.

“It pairs well with really any protein-plus-vegetable combo,” she said. “That’s pretty much what I eat on repeat for dinner—some sort of roasted potato and other roasted vegetable and either chicken, salmon, or steak. It’s pretty boring, but it works well for my body and keeps it simple.”

Dallas-area resident Valerie Vela is also a fan of the spud life and prefers her potatoes baked because she enjoys adding different toppings, though she noted that mashed and scalloped potatoes are also rather high on her list.

“I love potatoes because they are a versatile food that can be cooked and prepared in so many different ways,” she said. “I also love that potatoes are nutrient-dense and easy to digest. Plus, they are delicious.”

And you can bet that potatoes have a permanent spot on Vela’s meal menu.

“I’m not ashamed to admit I eat potatoes pretty much every day, but I’m also a vegetarian, so having dense nutritional food is important for me,” she said.

Vela acknowledged that she appreciates that potatoes are not only good sources of fiber but are also rich in vitamins and minerals (such as Vitamins C and B6, potassium, and iron) and contain some protein and antioxidants.

“I’m certainly not a doctor, but I think people could benefit from eating potatoes, provided they aren’t fried and/or smothered in unhealthy toppings,” she said. “I encourage people to research the benefits of potatoes, which may result in them enjoying a spud for lunch or dinner more often.”

Like Vela, Kohn recognizes and appreciates the nutrients potatoes offer and said it is certainly OK for individuals to eat them on a regular basis.

“They store really well and are really such great adds for winter recipes, such as goulash, shepherd’s pie, and different stews,” she said. “We all need carbohydrates, and potatoes can be part of a well-balanced diet.”

However, Kohn does advise people to limit eating fried potatoes, such as hash browns and French fries, especially when dining out.

“The main point of caution is that these potatoes are typically deep-fried and are using saturated fat and higher amounts of salt, which makes these foods taste amazing, but they are now very caloric-dense and are linked with increasing your LDL cholesterol,” she said. “I love a good French fry, but I would try to limit those to once a week, if anything, and try to split an order with friends when going out to eat.”

While French fries and aforementioned potato dishes are rather well-known, there are several potato forms that one can still discover and add to his or her meal rotation. Kohn said she recently attended a get-together at which attendees brought their favorite soups and stews, including some containing potatoes.

“It was so interesting since we all come from different backgrounds, and I got to try all of these German, Polish, and Irish recipes, like Kartoffelsuppe and a traditional goulash,” she said. “I’d say that is my new favorite way to eat potatoes.”

But Kohn, who said she doesn’t think the carbohydrates potatoes contain should be a reason not to include them in one’s diet, also still appreciates traditional dishes she’s always enjoyed, such as sweet potato casserole at Thanksgiving.

“My family makes it with brown sugar and pecans, and it’s my favorite dish heading into the holidays,” she said. “I don’t know if it’s the post-’carbs are the devil’ phase from the early 2000s that makes some people think they should avoid potatoes, but they can be really healthy.”

DID YOU KNOW?

The human heart beats approximately 100,000 times and pumps roughly 2,000 gallons of blood per day.

SHOULD RULES ALWAYS BE FOLLOWED?

From young ages, individuals are exposed to a variety of rules they are expected to follow—no running in the hallways, no biting your siblings or classmates, no dessert before dinner, no diving in the shallow end of the pool, no food or drink in the gym, no talking during tests, and many others.

And rules don’t suddenly disappear when a person becomes an adult. There are still plenty of written and unwritten regulations and standards to which individuals are expected to conform.

Why people follow rules isn’t always the same across the board. For some, there’s an intrinsic sense of responsibility to respecting rules, while others might follow them more so out of fear of the repercussions of breaking them. Individuals also follow rules to adhere to social expectations or to meet social preferences. Recent research found that between 55 and 70 percent of people in a study unconditionally followed rules more for intrinsic reasons, even when violating those rules would not result in harm for anyone.

But there are certainly individuals who think that rules do not necessarily need to dictate people’s choices and actions. Craig Stewart, who lives in England and is more commonly referred to as “British Craig” by his Dallas friends, said he believes that applying common sense is more important than adhering to standards that are enforced.

“When the rules are illogical and breaking them won’t harm anyone, then it’s fine to break them,” he said.

Like Stewart, Dallas-area resident Ivan Alonzo said he doesn’t think rules always need to be followed and that situations are often more conditional.

“Rules are important to maintain order and/or safety but should not always be blindly followed,” he said. “Like all other aspects of life, it is dependent upon context and the potential consequences of not following said rules. Blindly following rules without considering the context or its intent could potentially lead to negative consequences.”

Alonzo said there can be several reasons and instances that create justification for breaking or not following certain rules, including situations in which those rules are outdated or inefficient.

“Circumstances and situations change, which lead to the rules no longer being practical or effective,” he said. “You could also be given permission to ‘break’ a rule in order to try something new or innovate a process or method.”

Dallas-area resident and school counselor Olivia Wetzel said she addresses school and safety rules on a regular basis to students of all ages and talks to them about choices and consequences.

“Rules are meant to provide safety and structure for everyone, so yes, the rules should be followed,” she said. “However, if a rule does not provide that and the reasoning behind that rule does not provide safety and structure, there is a chance it may be a bad rule and should be looked at for tweaking or maybe even deleting.”

Wetzel cited examples of specific rules, such as the law of buckling one’s seatbelt and the standard from Mean Girls of not being able to sit at a certain table because one did not wear the color pink on Wednesday.

“These are two very different rules—one is rooted in safety and structure, and the other is rooted in malice and control,” she said.

Such differences cause Wetzel to believe that there are some instances in which rules may not necessarily need to be followed. For her, as she mentioned, the decision comes down to safety and structure.

“If a rule is not providing safety and structure for everyone, there are chances that maybe that rule will get broken, and it sounds like it should be,” she said. “Going back to the ‘you can’t sit with us’ rule—that is an example of a social rule that was created by someone to control others. We should break that rule and wear tie-dye on Wednesday because Regina George is not the president of the cafeteria. However, everyone should buckle their seatbelt for their own safety and the safety of others.”

Wetzel said she typically follows the rules the majority of the time, and it was even written on her preschool report card that “Olivia loves the rules,” but she said she also certainly has moments when she knows that the rules created don’t align with what she believes to be right and just.

“I used to read kids’ names on the tops of the cubbies and help them put their jackets in the right spot,” she said. “Elementary school truly seemed to be my destiny. But I am also a critical thinker who is connected to my emotions and understands nuance. So, I enjoy rules and structure, especially safety rules, but you better believe I read banned books and think the government has no place in telling women what to do with their bodies and who you can or cannot legally marry. It’s clear those rules are not about safety; those rules are about control.”

Regardless of whether a rule should or should not be followed, there are often still consequences—detentions, suspensions, citations, employment terminations, stern chats, timeouts, etc.—when people choose not to follow certain standards. Similar to his belief that common sense should be considered more than the expectation of following rules, Stewart said he also thinks that common sense should be applied when it comes to consequences for breaking rules.

“If the rule is there for a good reason and protecting people, then yes, there should be a negative consequence to ensure there is a disincentive to break it,” he said.

For Alonzo, consequences are also contingent upon the situations and should not simply be enforced in all cases.

“Not all rule breaking is malicious or done with malintent,” he said. “The specific circumstances and understanding of why or how a rule was broken could warrant an alternative consequence (e.g., education versus punishment). Also, people are not perfect and will make mistakes or have accidents. A rule being outdated, ineffective, or broken to prevent a more severe consequence are all things that should be considered and taken into account when determining the appropriate consequence.”

Similarly, Wetzel doesn’t think a negative consequence is always necessary, though she said that does not always mean that there won’t be any consequence, including a natural consequence.

“I think it depends on the severity of the rule that is broken,” she said. “Sometimes, especially for my littles who are learning, breaking a rule is an opportunity to learn. So, that usually means some type of consequence and/or some way to reset, reframe, and reflect on what we can do differently next time, which is important, too.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff and some dear readers celebrated a baby and questioned Pat McAfee’s shirtless decisions Saturday

Upcoming
Events

Monday, November 17: Cowboys vs. Raiders Watch Party at Legacy Hall; National Homemade Bread Day
Tuesday, November 18: Stars vs. Islanders at the American Airlines Center; Dallas Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 26–36) at Culinary Dropout; Bonsai Bar at Lakewood Brewing Company; Free Rooftop Movie — Major Payne at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, November 19: Mavs vs. Knicks at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, November 20: Feast of Sharing at Fair Park (Centennial Building); Dallas Contemporary Third Thursday After Hours
Friday, November 21: Ricky Velez at Dallas Comedy Club (also on Saturday); Tye Tribbett at Toyota Music Factory
Saturday, November 22: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Flea Harvey’s Cedars Open Studios Art Market at Lee Harvey’s; Harmony & Light Benefit Concert at Dallas Scottish Rite; Dinner Detective True Crime Murder Mystery Dinner at Hilton Garden Inn Downtown; Selena Tribute — Bidi Bidi Banda at Legacy Hall
Sunday, November 23: Cowboys vs. Eagles at AT&T Stadium

NatNews: Issue 191

Mon, 10 Nov 2025 12:59:24 +0100

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November 10, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 191

BRINGING IT BACK TO THE BACK

Some individuals may remember being kids and young adults and running around all day with no pain, sleeping in contorted positions without suffering any consequences, and feeling invincible enough not to worry about stretching or the functionality of one’s back.

And then aging happens.

While getting older doesn’t necessarily mean back pain is inevitable, it’s not uncommon for aches and annoyances to increase as the years continue to pass. According to Penn Medicine, studies indicate that up to 85 percent of people will experience some form of such pain in their lifetimes. Ultimately, this is a result of the human body wearing down over time.

“As we age, our bodies naturally lose muscle, flexibility, and joint mobility,” Dallas resident and kinesiologist Kevin Kuhn said. “The spine also changes as vertebral discs lose hydration, and supporting muscles do not stabilize as effectively as they used to. Over time, these small changes add up.”

In addition to such natural occurrences, Kuhn said there are also lifestyle habits and activities that can lead to back issues.

“Long hours of sitting, whether at a desk, on a bike, or on the couch, and repetitive motions like bending or twisting through the lower back can make the spine stiffer and more vulnerable to pain or injury,” he said. “The good news is that most of this can be managed and even prevented with the right approach to movement and strength.”

Kuhn said the repetitive hip flexion involved in running and cycling—as well as in simply sitting for long periods—keeps the hip flexors in a shortened position. As a result, the pelvis can tilt forward and force the lower back into excessive arching, known as lordosis.

“Imagine holding a bowl of cereal,” Kuhn said. “That bowl represents your pelvis. If your hip flexors are tight and your pelvis tips forward, it is like spilling the cereal out of the front of the bowl. The goal is to balance the bowl, bringing the pelvis back toward neutral, which helps reduce strain on the lower back and prevent pain.”

While some aches and pains might simply be a result of aging, there are ways to prevent more serious conditions. Kuhn, who helps individuals overcome a variety of different injuries and issues through personalized treatment at Athlete Factors, said the best way to take care of one’s back is actually by incorporating a full-body plan.

“Prioritize strengthening the back side of the hips, including the glutes and hamstrings,” he said. “Focus on mobilizing the front of the hips, especially the hip flexors and quads. Stabilize the core with plank variations, hollow holds, and exercises that resist flexion, extension, and rotation. Improve mobility through the upper back with thoracic extension and rotation.”

Kuhn said together, such strategies will help the lower back move and feel better. He also advises some additional measures to ensure better overall back health.

“Mix in strength training, mobility work, and cross-training to stay balanced and resilient,” he said. “Pay attention to posture because how you sit, stand, and move throughout the day matters just as much as your workouts.”

When back pain does become more prevalent for an individual, Kuhn said the biggest mistake one can make is to stop all movement. He said short-term rest can be helpful, but too much rest can actually delay recovery. Gentle forms of movement (e.g., walking, light stretching, or low-impact activity) promote blood flow and healing.

“When I work with someone experiencing back pain, I start by identifying why the pain is happening,” Kuhn said. “If you are not assessing, you are guessing. Find a kinesiologist, physical therapist, or chiropractor who will evaluate joint range of motion, neuromuscular tension, and muscle imbalances to find the root cause. In many cases, the pain comes from a combination of tight hip flexors, weak hip extensors or core stabilizers, and repetitive strain. Based on the assessment results, I focus on restoring mobility where things are tight, building strength in weak areas, and teaching movement patterns that prevent the problem from returning.”

When it comes to back issues, Kuhn said he knows the pain all too well. He said improper lifting caused a back injury that stopped his progress during his senior year of college cross country and track and field years ago.

“If I had known how to assess my movement at that time, I would have focused on stretching my hip flexors and strengthening my glutes and lower abdominals,” he said. “I could have saved myself a lot of pain. Those lessons now shape how I help others move better and avoid the same setbacks.”

DID YOU KNOW?

An ostrich’s eye, which is about 5 centimeters (almost 2 inches) in diameter, is larger than its brain.

LOOK AT THIS PHOTOGRAPH—EVERY TIME I DO, IT MAKES ME LAUGH

Pictures allow people to have visual depictions of moments and memories that can take individuals back to those times and evoke certain emotions—joy, fondness, sorrow, regret, pride, nostalgia, and plenty more.

Images also carry stories with them, and one picture can tell several different stories from various individual perspectives. The purpose for snapping pictures and holding onto them can be unique to the people who take them, as well.

“I like to capture the moment—a time and place and a feeling,” Houston-area resident Darla Hogaboom said.

Photography can also become a true passion for people. Dallas resident Damon Yousefy, who is an attorney in full-time career, has taken up photography as an unpaid side hobby simply for the joy of it and invested in a professional camera, lenses, and lighting gear.

“I love taking photos and making sure they are high-quality because I think we need to remember positive moments in our lives, whether it’s a get-together with friends or a beautiful sunset,” he said. “I love to see the joy it gives people when they have good photos of themselves, whether it’s a headshot or a group shot.”

Such a hobby can also be enjoyed with a smartphone when out and about in daily life. Dallas-area resident Mark Olateju said he enjoys capturing key moments that turn into future memories in his life and the lives of others. He also believes that pictures play a significant role in people’s lives today.

“It’s the very reason that boomers and other people of the older generation got on social media platforms in the first place—to see pictures of their kids and grandkids who may be several states or countries away,” Olateju said.

Olateju said pictures also play vital roles in online dating apps and in serving as visual evidence to help individuals track how they are doing in reaching their goals.

“People now want to see recent pictures and full-body pictures of potential mates so that they know what they are getting into,” he said. “And pictures play an important role for people trying to make lifestyle changes. They gauge their progress from ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures.”

According to the USC Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, the average brain generates 48.6 thoughts per minute (which adds up to about 70,000 thoughts per day), so some recollections can get lost in the shuffle. Captured images, Yousefy said, can create value as people’s memories fade.

“They contain a lot of emotion,” he said. “Friends may move away, kids grow up, and vacations end, but good photos remind us of those moments and how we felt in them.”

For Hogaboom, photos are taken for various reasons for different individuals, whether those reasons are more sentimental or more focused on getting likes and comments on platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and other outlets.

“The value comes from those reasons,” she said. “Family photos still hold value, but social media has weaponized photos—‘look at me and where I am,’ leading people to believe that validation comes from strangers’ envy or admiration.”

But Hogaboom enjoys storing pictures so that she can remember certain moments in her life and experience the emotions she felt at the time and the emotions those photos create in the present.

“I do look back at photos and enjoy the memories they evoke,” she said. “I will often have something cross my memory and then go and find a photo, and that expands my joy.”

Olateju said he looks back at pictures on a daily basis. He attributes doing so to the years from when he was 13 to almost 22 years old and didn’t take any pictures.

“I’m making up for lost memories,” he said. “I also enjoy reposting old pictures of my family and friends. Many of these pictures they don’t even remember taking.”

Like Hogaboom and Olateju, Yousefy said he also enjoys looking back at old photos and thinks he likely does so more often than other people do.

“I use Amazon Photos for photo backup, and it has an ‘On This Day’ feature that helps me remember photos going back even decades,” he said. “It’s nice to look back sometimes instead of always looking ahead.”

Not everyone is always inclined to take photos, and doing so is certainly a matter of individual preferences. Some individuals say they like to experience moments when they are in them and not focus on taking pictures and videos to document the memories. Yousefy said he thinks it’s important to take at least one photo to remember the event or experience, and Olateju said he believes that one can still be fully present while also capturing those moments with photos.

“Who says they have to be mutually exclusive?” Olateju said. “You can do both.”

Hogaboom, though, said she believes there are some situations when keeping the camera or phone tucked away is more beneficial.

“I think we should all be more mindful of the things we get to experience in person without taking a photo,” she said. “Some things are better to just have in your memory.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff and some dear readers embraced the wind on a beautiful day to catch up on African adventures and all things life

Upcoming
Events

Monday, November 10: Mavs vs. Bucks at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, November 11: Free Rooftop Movie — Bring It On at Sundown at Granada; Bonsai Bar at Celestial Beerworks
Wednesday, November 12: Holiday at the Arboretum begins at the Dallas Arboretum; Feast of Sharing at Dickies Arena; Dallas Wicked (Part 2) Movie Release Party at Hendy’s on Henderson
Thursday, November 13: NatNews Sole Investor Appreciation Day; Bryan Adams at the American Airlines Center; Candlelight — Tribute to Adele at Edison’s
Friday, November 14: Dallas Silent Disco with Live DJs at Klyde Warren Park; Mavs vs. Clippers at the American Airlines Center; 90s Country Tribute — Straight Tequila Night at Legacy Hall
Saturday, November 15: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Dallas Kindness Festival 2025 at Annette Strauss Square; United Way Centennial Celebration at Fair Park; Dallas Fall Festival in Bishop Arts at Written by the Seasons; Wicked Ball at J. Erik Jonsson Central Library; Stars vs. Flyers at the American Airlines Center; Candlelight — 90s Unplugged at the Frontiers of Flight Museum
Sunday, November 16: The Boho Market at Klyde Warren Park; Winter’s Night — The Music of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra at the Eisemann Center

NatNews: Issue 190

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 12:59:23 +0100

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November 3, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 190

SLEEP DEBT IS BASICALLY AS NEGATIVE AS IT SOUNDS

The average adult needs between seven and nine hours of sleep each night, but that certainly doesn’t mean that said average adult is in a state of slumber for that long on a regular basis. In fact, some statistics reveal that throughout the United States, between 30 to 46 percent (37.1 percent in Texas) of adults are not getting an adequate amount of sleep.

Sleep debt is the result of this lack of sleep and is the difference between the amount of sleep an individual needs and what he or she actually gets. A person who is deprived of sleep can experience significant negative effects, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, and decreases in memory and cognitive function. According to Harvard Medical School, going into sleep debt can also impact one’s health in other ways, including excess calorie intake after dinner, reduced energy expenditure, increased weight, and detrimental changes in how the body uses insulin.

People often try to make up for lack of sleep throughout the week by taking naps on weekends, but those extra couple or few hours often aren’t enough—what is most helpful are lifestyle changes and prioritizing sleep.

Phoenix-area resident Arin Mearig said she makes concerted efforts to get nine hours of sleep each night but usually gets closer to eight.

“If I sleep less than eight, though, it’s not good for anybody,” she said.

Mearig said she does try to make up for her missed hours of sleep if she finds herself in a sleep debt.

“I either sleep during the time I’ve allotted to work out, or I’ll go to bed much earlier the next night,” she said. “If I didn’t do this, I feel like I would constantly be trying to play catch up with sleep and never have the sufficient rest I need.”

Like Mearig, Dallas resident Mike Hart prioritizes sleep and said he tries to be in bed early enough so that he can get between six and seven-and-a-half hours of sleep each night.

“I feel my absolute best when I hit at least seven hours, which means I need to be in bed by 9:30 p.m. to wake up at 5 a.m. for my fun morning training sessions,” he said. “That early start sets me up for a great day, and those extra minutes of sleep make a big difference.”

And if Hart finds himself in sleep debt, he said he doesn’t rely on naps or even earlier bedtimes to try to make up for lost slumber.

“I don’t go overboard trying to catch up on missed sleep with billions of extra hours,” he said. “Instead, I focus on getting back to my regular routine with consistent nights of at least seven hours. That steady rhythm feels more sustainable and helps me reset without throwing off my schedule.”

For Dallas-area resident Josh Odegard, sleeping habits have changed quite a bit over the last year. He said for about 10 years, he was never in bed before 11 p.m. and had become accustomed to going to bed after midnight most nights, even on weeknights.

“I was averaging about six to six-and-a-half hours of sleep per night,” he said. “I also very rarely napped—maybe once or twice a year—and only if I had multiple nights in a row with less than six hours of sleep. There are two reasons why I was getting such little sleep: work and partying. I would stay out late multiple nights per week, and on nights that I wasn’t out, I was usually trying to catch up on work.”

But throughout the course of the last year, Odegard said he has gotten into the habit of going to sleep much earlier, mainly because he has been waking up earlier than he used to, so sleep debt hasn’t been much of an issue for him.

“My girlfriend gets up between 5 and 6 a.m. for work and marathon training, and our dog starts whining between 6 and 7 a.m. every day, so now I’m up before 7 a.m. most days,” he said. “Sleeping next to someone who has a regular sleep schedule has helped me get on a regular schedule, as well. I’m now getting much more sleep, too—sometimes up to nine hours a night.”

Since he began getting more sleep, Odegard said he has noticed a significant difference in his energy levels.

“It sounds obvious, but I didn’t really notice before how tired I was most days,” he said. “I’m finding it easier to wake up and much easier to just get out of bed when I wake up instead of snoozing my alarm two or three times. I am having to make sure I’m more focused on work during the day since I’m spending fewer evenings working, but I feel like prioritizing sleep has been a great change in my life. I still don’t take naps, but now I don’t ever feel like I need one.”

There are some individuals who are able to juggle several activities and function well off limited sleeping hours, but others recognize their need to increase the importance level of sleep in their lives.

“A few years back, I made a commitment to prioritize sleep by going to bed earlier, and it’s been a game changer for my productivity at work and in life,” Hart said. “When I’m well-rested, my mental focus is sharper, my mood is more positive, and my body recovers faster from training. If I do slip into sleep debt, I’ll get in a quick midday nap if time allows. It’s like a mini recharge for the day.”

One of the best ways to avoid sleep debt and the detriments it can bring to your health is to determine how much sleep you need and make it a priority to be consistent in getting your needed amount each night. Mearig said she truly believes getting at least seven to nine hours on a nightly basis is essential for adults for their health, all-around well-being, and general way of living.

“When I don’t get the rest I need, it’s so evident,” she said. “I’m more anxious and impatient, and I just feel off. When I do get good rest, I’m more focused and present, and it really changes how the day goes. I realize it’s not reasonable for every person in every season of life to get seven to nine hours, but I truly think people should place a higher priority on sleep as much as they can because of the effect a lack of sleep has on us mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Finland has the most heavy metal bands per capita (84.5 per 100,000 citizens).

HOW DOES ONE SIMPLY LET IT GO, ELSA?

While Elsa inspired plenty of young kids (and even adults) with her anthem “Let It Go” when singing about letting go of fear and, instead, finding liberation in who she truly is, this song can represent the need for many people to let go of certain aspects in their own lives to bring about positive change.

Whether it’s getting out of a situation, ending a relationship, setting fire to old photos (or just deleting them from your album), or a number of other actions (dramatic or not), sometimes people simply feel the need to put parts of their pasts or presents behind them. Dallas-area resident Arinda Cale said she believes that it’s important to let go of things—and sometimes people—as we move through life.

“I believe we are here to evolve, so we are bound to outgrow things and situations, and by letting go or moving on, new things, experiences, and people will come into our lives,” she said. “People are harder than things for me. I’m a firm believer in the saying that some people are with us for a reason, a season, or a lifetime.”

For Cale personally, she said she is able to let go of physical items rather easily. She has moved more than 30 times throughout her lifetime, so she learned at a young age not to keep every single tangible piece forever.

“When it comes to emotional things, I can let go of some things, such as a mistake or hurtful comment, pretty easily, but if someone I truly love says or does something that hurts me, that may take a little longer to get over,” she said. “But if that person is important to me, I will get over it—I probably won’t forget it, though.”

Not everyone can jive with Elsa belting “let it go” the way Cale can, though. Dallas resident Drew Mbiam said he is quite aware that he is not exactly someone who is willing and able to so simply push something out of his mind or life.

“I think it’s an important ability to have, but I don’t think turning the other cheek is a virtue,” he said. “I don’t let things go, but by no means do I let the past stop me from living in the present. However, I do keep a score, so when the opportunity presents itself, we will get even.”

And perhaps “letting go” doesn’t need to be the way people look at such a concept. Dallas resident and psychologist Kenleigh McMinn said she prefers to use the phrase “moving forward” or “moving on,” instead.

“‘Letting go’ can imply that you somehow fully release whatever is happening and don’t carry it with you in any way or think about it again after you’re out of the situation,” she said. “Realistically, that’s unfortunately not how it works. Whatever the thing is that you’re trying to let go of, the act of trying not to think about it can actually make you think about it more. If I tell you not to think about pink elephants, what pops into your mind? Instead, framing the process as moving forward acknowledges that you will carry the experience with you while still getting un-stuck and making progress toward something new.”

McMinn said it’s important for people first to be able to recognize when people or situations might be holding them back or having negative impacts on their lives.

“Once the awareness is there, it allows you to assess and decide how you want to proceed,” she said. “In some cases, you may be able to have a discussion or set a boundary that can improve what’s going on and avoid having to let go altogether. Other times, this doesn’t have the desired effect, and you may have to make the hard decisions about whether to keep going.”

McMinn also acknowledged that it can certainly be difficult to move forward from a situation in which a relationship or circumstance is pulling an individual down in some way, but she said doing so is crucial.

“Staying stuck can lead to increased anxiety, low mood, frustration, or resentment,” she said. “That being said, change is scary. Sometimes it comes down to being willing to take a risk for something new to be better, versus staying with something you know but is hurting you in some way.”

And oftentimes, taking those risks can be beneficial for a person in the long run. For Cale, letting go of physical items can be more enjoyable, as there isn’t an attachment to things that depict a life that is only visually appealing but not actually fulfilling. Emotionally, though, she said while it can be a bit more challenging to do, it can still be rewarding.

“If you’re spending time in a situation or with a person and you leave feeling not so great about being in that situation or with that person, it’s a sign to move away from that or them,” Cale said. “You liking yourself is far more important than someone else liking you.”

Mbiam, on the other hand, said letting go/moving forward may or may not improve a situation for an individual. He said he thinks holding on might actually bring about better results.

“I believe people take advantage of others because they think they will turn the other cheek or just accept it,” he said. “Showing them that is not always going to be the case will motivate them to check some of their most toxic impulses. Honestly, not letting things go is almost like a public service.”

If there are individuals who need to move on from their current circumstances, though, McMinn said there are a few places to start and a handful of questions to inquire of oneself.

“Ask yourself what’s making it hard,” she said. “What’s keeping you stuck? What would need to happen in order for you to take the first step toward something new? Do you have the skills, resources, and support you need to make this change happen? What advice would you give a loved one who was in your shoes?”

Like McMinn, Cale said she leans on what a person would say to someone about whom he or she cares to determine what is best for that individual in whatever the situation is.

“When my girls were growing up and having a hard time letting go of something said about them, a friend or boyfriend who wasn’t treating them well, or a tangible thing, I’d ask them what they would tell their best friend if they were in this difficult situation,” she said. “I just feel like we should treat ourselves like we treat our best friends.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Some of the NatNews staff encountered some rather fast dear readers and future dear readers out in the wild

Upcoming
Events

Monday, November 3: Cowboys vs. Cardinals at AT&T Stadium; Cowboys vs. Cardinals Watch Party at Legacy Hall
Tuesday, November 4: Stars vs. Oilers at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — Scary Movie 2 at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, November 5: Celebrity Pickleball Showdown at Brookhaven Country Club; Mavs vs. Pelicans at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, November 6: Cool Thursday Concerts — Emerald City Band at the Dallas Arboretum; Ben Mehl (Live Taping) at Dallas Comedy Club; Hyperefficient — Optimize Your Brain to Transform the Way You Work at Center for BrainHealth; Stars vs. Ducks at the American Airlines Center
Friday, November 7: Maroon 5 at the American Airlines Center; Mat Kearney and Jacob Stelly at Brookhaven Country Club; Late Night at the Museum at the Dallas Museum of Art
Saturday, November 8: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Panda Fest Dallas (also on Friday and Sunday) at Carpenter Park; Festival at the Switchyard at Historic Downtown Carrollton; The Big Dill — World’s Largest Pickle Party at Texas Live!
Sunday, November 9: Stars vs. Kraken at the American Airlines Center; Pickleball World Championships at Brookhaven Country Club; 49th Annual Lakewood Home Tour (also on Saturday); The Great Indian Diwali Festival of Lights at the Stage at Grandscape

NatNews: Issue 189

Mon, 27 Oct 2025 11:59:25 +0100

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October 27, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 189

IMPORTANCE OF GLUTE ACTIVATION TO AVOID TIGHTNESS

More than once in the past, the iPhone tried to autocorrect the word glute to flute, but it’s possible that the device simply didn’t understand the importance of this special body part.

But you are about to.

The glutes comprise a group of three muscles (gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus) that stabilize the pelvis, extend the hip, and control rotation—all crucial for running and athletic movement. Runners, other athletes, and people who exist on a daily basis often experience hip and glute tightness from overuse or poor form during exercise and from sitting for prolonged periods of time.

Such tightness can also cause lower back pain and lead to more serious injuries if not addressed. Dallas-area resident Carolyn Macduff Levanway, who is running the TCS New York City Marathon on Sunday and acknowledged that her hips and glutes become tight when she sits too long or goes more than a week without strength training, previously faced such an issue but was able to work through it and continue training without any major setbacks.

“My physical therapist actually found a Grade 1 tear in my gluteus medius last year because I sat in a training for work for eight hours straight,” she said. “Don’t do what I did, people!”

Dallas resident Sheldon Sonnenberg, a physical therapist who is also an investor and a consultant in the healthcare industry, said the real cause of hip and glute tightness is often an unexpected factor: hand dominance.

“Your dominant hand influences how your entire body aligns,” he said. “Over time, this creates a rotational imbalance—the pelvis shifts, one hip rotates forward, and the other rotates backward. This subtle asymmetry affects how each side of your body moves, often showing up as right-side tightness and glute weakness in right-handed individuals.”

Sonnenberg also said when joints are out of position, a person’s nervous system struggles to activate muscles efficiently. Some muscles become overactive (too tight), while others become underactive (too lengthened).

“Combine that with the repetitive forward motion of running—which occurs mostly in one plane—and your body loses rotational and lateral control,” he said. “The result? Tight hips, weak glutes, and overworked knees.”

The good news is that there are effective ways to find relief when tightness in the hips and glutes sets in. Macduff Levanway was able to work with her PT as well as a sports medicine doctor in her area to get back to running and functioning throughout her daily routines comfortably.

“My sports medicine doc prescribed a steroid to help with inflammation, and my PT did deep tissue massages and gave me exercises to do each day for a few weeks,” she said.

Sonnenberg also helps his patients find such alleviation and said the goal isn’t simply stretching tight areas—it’s about resetting one’s alignment so that his or her body can move naturally again.

“My process combines manual therapy with targeted mobility training to rebalance the pelvis, hips, and lower body,” he said. “Every exercise restores communication between your joints and nervous system.”

Sonnenberg also said mobility should include all three planes of motion: sagittal (front-to-back), frontal (side-to-side), and transverse (rotational).

“By restoring full-body alignment, you protect your knees and make each step feel smoother, lighter, and more efficient,” he said.

One way to prevent ongoing tightness is to ensure you activate your glutes during exercise. Glute activation, particularly essential for runners, can lead to a reduction in lower back and/or knee pain as well as an increase in power and physical performance. Sonnenberg said true glute activation doesn’t come from isolated exercises alone.

“The secret lies in joint alignment first, strength second,” he said. “‘Where the bones go, the muscles follow.’ Start by improving mobility and movement control, then layer in strength. Warm up through all three planes, activate the nervous system, and move with intention. Only then will your glutes—and the rest of your kinetic chain—function at full power.”

As an avid runner who continues to set and achieve goals and milestones for herself and wants to be able to participate in this sport she loves for as long as possible, Macduff Levanway knows the importance of staying healthy by paying attention to such factors as glute activation.

“You don’t want to end up injured and sitting out from the sport that brings you joy,” she said. “Strength train, cross-train, and do your mobility exercises often.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Apple seeds contain small amounts of amygdalin, a chemical that produces cyanide.

IS FALL FASHION SUPERIOR?

In addition to serving as the prelude to the holidays, the fall season brings with it plenty of opportunities to explore new and traditional fashion trends. Many individuals love the creativity and versatility that fall affords, allowing people to somehow make casual, preppy, sophisticated, or a combination of various looks seem stylish.

The autumn season also ushers in different hues that better correlate with the changing and falling leaves than summer’s brighter colors. And whether one is embracing days spent in leggings or sweatpants and cozy hoodies or snazzy jackets and less dressed-down apparel, the ensemble possibilities throughout this season are seemingly endless.

“I wear black a lot in the fall with wide-leg/loose-fit jeans that are high-waisted,” Dallas-area resident Ashley Hill said. “Other fall colors I love to wear are mauve and rust. I also love dressing an outfit down more casually by wearing my white Vejas sneakers in the fall.”

Fall footwear certainly tends to leave toes and ankles less exposed, as flip-flops and other sandals are often left behind in one’s closet for a while. Dallas-area resident Megan England, the official fashion correspondent of NatNews, said she is a fan of wearing tall boots throughout the stylish season.

“I really like equestrian-style boots and feel that they are classics,” she said. “I also feel that way about true leather or skin cowboy boots. However, I am loving the colored, fun, gameday-style cowboy boots, as well.”

England said she does, however, have some questions regarding the style choices that are decidedly “in,” particularly relating to when a former fall outfit staple will return to people’s necks.

“When are we bringing back infinity scarves?” she said.

Another local fashion savant, Dallas resident Doug Mitchell, said his favorite fall items are sweaters, especially cardigans, because of the versatility they offer.

“They’re a great substitute for a blazer when you want to be a little more dressed-up, and I love pairing a classic black cardigan with a T-shirt and jeans,” he said. “I’m also a fan of chunky, oversized cardigans—especially when I find one in an animal print.”

And while it’s subjective to each individual as to which season offers the best possibilities in terms of appealing fashion, Mitchell said the obvious answer, in his opinion, is absolutely fall.

“Cooler weather means you can wear layers and create more opportunities to be creative with patterns,” he said.

Like Mitchell, England said she also thinks fall tops all seasons for best fashion and appreciates the chance to wear layers.

“I think fall has a color scheme that is unique to only this time of year, and that makes it feel more special,” she said. “As a layering advocate, I feel like this style has the most potential for this time of year.”

As with each season, areas of the U.S. and across the globe experience different weather than others. Anyone who lives in Dallas and other parts of Texas knows that simply because the calendar suddenly says it’s autumn in late September doesn’t mean that the temperatures have left the 90s by that time. But once the area does start to experience more of an actual fall feel, Hill said she enjoys donning somewhat collaborative styles that veer away from what she typically wears on warmer days.

“I love fall fashion because with the weather in Texas, you can bleed summer and winter fashions together,” she said. “For example, sometimes I love wearing a pair of shorts with a baggy comfy sweatshirt.”

Just because something is considered trending or not doesn’t mean it can’t be worn when one wants to, though. It’s not uncommon for individuals not to care any about fashion or not to care at certain times or in certain stages of their lives. For Hill, she said she considers herself to be a mix of comfy and stylish when it comes to what she chooses to wear throughout the fall season.

“It truly depends on the day and the occasion,” she said. “I love wearing an oversized sweatshirt with yoga pants when I’m at home watching the Cowboys play, but if I’m actually going to a Cowboys game, I’m all about the gameday fashion, like my white boots, sequin jeans, and a cute Gameday Couture top or team bomber jacket.”

Like Hill, England’s look is often contingent upon her specific environment and what her role is in those different settings.

“If I am out and about socially, I like to look cute with finishing touches, such as makeup and more ornate designer accessories,” she said. “When I go to work as a teacher, I tend to dress more kitsch and don’t wear makeup.”

Regardless of whether or not a person is hip with the fashion trends or still wearing a shirt from the 1990s that says “I’m tight like spandex” and forever believes that anything matches if you wear it with confidence, there’s nothing wrong with doing what’s best and most enjoyable for you when it comes to what you wear.

“For me, it’s not so much about being trendy but about wearing what I like, which sometimes tends to be a little quirky,” Mitchell said. “But that doesn’t mean it’s not comfortable—feeling comfortable in what you’re wearing is as important as wearing something comfortable.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Some of the NatNews staff and some dear readers recently celebrated the marriage of dear readers Jeremy and Lucy and then owned the dance floor

Upcoming
Events

Monday, October 27: Mavs vs. Thunder at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, October 28: Stars vs. Capitals at the American Airlines Center; Pickleball Clinic & Mixer at the Sandy Pickle; Free Rooftop Movie — Weapons at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, October 29: Mavs vs. Pacers at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, October 30: Cool Thursday Concerts — Dancing Dream | ABBA Tribute Band at the Dallas Arboretum; Candlelight — Rock Favorites on Strings at Frontiers of Flight Museum
Friday, October 31: A Nightmare on Main Street Halloween Bash at the Village Dallas; Día de los Muertos Concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center; Chills & Thrills Halloween Party at House of Blues Dallas; Hall-O-Ween with Emerald City Band at Legacy Hall
Saturday, November 1: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Dallas Walk to End Alzheimer’s at Klyde Warren Park; Plano Food + Wine Festival at Legacy West; Maná at the American Airlines Center (also on Sunday)
Sunday, November 2: DMA Free First Sundays — Access for All at the Dallas Museum of Art; Celebración del Día de Muertos at Crown Hill Memorial Park

NatNews: Issue 188

Mon, 20 Oct 2025 11:59:25 +0100

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October 20, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 188

IS THE PECAN TRYING TO OVERTAKE THE PUMPKIN AS THE FALL FAVE FLAVE?

Though the fall season is generally filled with pumpkins galore, don’t be surprised to find pecans popping up more, particularly as a desired flavor for various menu items.

Pecans, which are actually not nuts but are seeds inside of drupes (stone fruits), are often used as toppings for salads, yogurt, and oatmeal and in dishes and baked goods, including sweet potato casserole, muffins, pancakes, pies, candy, and cookies. Dallas resident Liz Orozco said she enjoys the taste pecans add to certain beverages and desserts.

“I like pecan-flavored coffee and pecan-flavored pie,” she said. “The HEB pecan-flavored coffee is fire.”

Pecans also offer a variety of health benefits and contain several nutrients, such as calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, Vitamin K, biotin, and phosphorus. Dallas-area resident Greg Cohen said he eats pecans both for health reasons and for the flavor they offer.

“They are great for providing healthy fats, calcium, and some other vitamins and minerals,” he said. “They are also very versatile and add great texture and flavor to salads, yogurt, dessert, etc. Typically, I enjoy pecans by themselves as a good midday snack. If I am using them in food preparation, I grind them up and use them as a coating on salmon for a bit of crunch and texture.”

Not everyone is or can be a fan of the pecan, though. Dallas-area resident Madison Royal said she doesn’t eat pecans or pecan-flavored foods because she has always had a bit of a reaction to the small but mighty drupe product.

“I’m not fully allergic, but they make my mouth and tongue itch,” she said. “It’s not something I’m willing to experience solely for the quick pecan bite.”

While pumpkin spice everything has a longstanding history of dominating the fall season, this year, many individuals have indicated a stronger preference for pecans. In fact, pecan-flavored menu items surged 28 percent in 2025—the highest year-over-year growth among fall flavors. The desired non-nut has especially become more popular in Texas, where the state tree is the pecan tree. But Royal said she doesn’t think the pecan will be replacing the pumpkin as the fall staple anytime soon.

“I think everyone is hyping the pecan because ads and marketing always need a new angle for their customers,” she said. “I would be surprised if many people branch out, and I think these are small seasonal boosts. Pumpkins will always hold a place in my heart, and I think they are safe in their standing as the fall favorite.”

While pumpkins didn’t see as much growth in demand as pecans, they remained steady, as dedicated pumpkin-spice latte lovers and others who are fans of pumpkin-flavored delights remained loyal. Pumpkins also have the slight advantage of being associated with Halloween and Thanksgiving festivities, which Orozco knows gives them a bit of an edge.

“Pumpkins are too iconic, even though I do really prefer pecans,” she said.

And no matter how popular the pecan does become, like Royal and Orozco, Cohen said he does not think it will ever usurp the pumpkin as the fall flavor.

“There is a pumpkin craze, and while I am not a huge fan of pumpkin myself, I am a realist,” he said. “Pumpkin has a sweetness that works well in beverages and other items that—without manufacturing manipulation—I don’t think pecans will ever match.”

One thing the pecan has that the pumpkin doesn’t, though, is controversy surrounding how to pronounce its name. Orozco said she pronounces the word “puh-con” (which is more common in the South) though others opt for “pee-can” (used more in the Northeast and other northern states) or “pee-con” (commonly used across the U.S.). Royal is on the same page as Orozco, but she said she knows that not everyone is going to agree with her.

“I pronounce them ‘puh-cons,’ but I have definitely heard it all as a teacher and former East Coaster for a short stint after college,” she said.

While technically there is no definitive correct way to say the word, Cohen said he alternates between “pee-con” and “pee-can” but is not quite sure why.

“Maybe it depends on whom I am speaking with geographically,” he said. “Perhaps I need someone to observe me in my natural or unnatural habitat to know exactly when and why it occurs.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Cap’n Crunch’s full name is Captain Horatio Magellan Crunch.

THE VALUE OF TRUSTED CLOSE FRIENDS AND MENTORS

Throughout their lifetimes, people often develop relationships with individuals who impact them in ways they might never have expected, offering wisdom and insights that also provide guidance and support. Whether they are officially or unofficially labeled so, mentors can play key roles and make lasting impressions in the lives of those who trust them.

Dallas resident Kevin Roberts said when he was in his 20s and 30s, he was an avid tennis player and connected with a man named Dick Landenberger, who was ranked No. 1 in Texas in the men’s 45+ category at the time. More than 30 years later, Roberts is still thankful for the relationship he has with Landenberger and what he has learned from him.

“He basically took me under his wing, and we played once or twice a week for at least 10 years,” Roberts said. “He was also successful in business. We became very good friends, and I asked his advice not only pertaining to tennis but also business and family. He is now in his 80s and unable to play tennis due to health issues, but we still get together for lunch occasionally.”

Mentors don’t necessarily have to be designated as such and sometimes might not even realize how powerful their influences are. Sometimes even close friends can take on the mentor roles. Dallas resident Elizabeth Cruz said she has such friends who informally mentor her and noted that there is one specific woman who has impacted her quite significantly, particularly in her journey as a certified public accountant.

“The individual I’m referring to is more tenured in her career, so she has been a good resource for me by providing feedback to help me in my career,” she said.

Dallas resident Craig Borkenhagen said he has had several close friends—specifically his friends Geremy, Damian, and Jeff—who have served as mentors throughout his life. He met Geremy and Damian when he lived in New Haven and became familiar with Jeff during his time in Cambridge.

“Through coffee chats and lunches, dinners, and simple quality time together, we’ve all sort of encouraged one another and shared deeper parts of our lives with each other,” he said. “Especially as it relates to spiritual matters, the accountability and spurring one another on in our faith has been so crucial for me. Knowing that those guys love me, care for me, and pray for me is so important and valuable.”

In addition to offering support and encouragement, mentors can expand one’s network, offer broader perspectives, provide a sense of connection, help increase one’s self-confidence and self-awareness, and even help improve one’s mental health (which goes both ways, as a mentor can also experience better mental health by supporting a friend or colleague). Borkenhagen said he believes that it is beneficial for people to have mentors in their lives, whether for short periods of time or for multiple years.

“It’s important to have people who can share their perspectives on issues with you, especially if they’ve been through that issue before and can give good advice,” he said. “I like the idea of short-term and long-term mentors, but for me being in my current life stage, I’m looking less for mentors, specifically, and more simply for close friends who can share from their past experiences.”

Like Borkenhagen, Cruz said she sees tremendous value in people having mentors—both for short stints and for more extended durations—and once heard a piece of advice that everyone should have his or her own board of directors, so to speak.

“This board of directors can serve as mentors for you to bounce ideas off of, can provide constructive feedback, and are people you trust and are open with,” she said. “They can mentor you throughout your life. I also think some mentors can be short-term mentors for specific things in your life, but the longer the mentorship, the more they really understand you and can be helpful.”

And eventually, those who have gained valuable experience as mentees find themselves serving as mentors to others. Roberts, who has been actively involved in the Dallas running and pickleball communities and plays golf with various individuals on a regular basis, now has unique opportunities to share his wisdom with those who view him as a respected and trustworthy figure in their lives.

“I wasn’t really around people a lot younger than me until I approached 50 and started running,” Roberts said. “There is not really one person whom I can say I have mentored, but being older, I have been asked many questions, ranging from starting in insurance to buying a first home to raising kids to staying in a 40-plus-year marriage. I enjoy answering questions if my experience can help even a little.”

Roberts said he honestly believes that he has benefited more from his younger friends than they have from him, and he credits running for allowing that type of bonding.

“There are so many I have trained and traveled with through the years,” he said. “Paige Ryder Celuch is 35 years younger than me, and there is nobody I would rather discuss life’s issues with more than her. I think we both enjoyed having someone at totally different stages in life but who could listen to ideas respectfully and speak freely without being judged.”

In various workplace settings, employees often have opportunities—sometimes formal, sometimes not—to work with mentors to guide them in their careers and goals for the future. Other mentorship relationships can form more naturally and develop over time. Either way, as with any successful relationship, consistency and commitment are important.

“I think the best way to build these relationships is organically,” Cruz said. “But to foster a relationship, you have to be willing to invest the time.”

Borkenhagen also emphasized how essential it is for a person to be willing to spend his or her time with the other individual to grow a more trusting relationship.

“I think coffees and lunches are the best way to start, and stay consistent with that,” he said. “Spend time with and show the other person that you truly care about them on a deeper level than is typical. And be as open and honest as you possibly can be. People can tell when you hold back, so after that trust is built up, don’t. Don’t hold back.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Some of the NatNews staff dressed up as a spider (obviously) and hung out with a bat and a cat

Upcoming
Events

Monday, October 20: Twenty-One Pilots at Dos Equis Pavilion
Tuesday, October 21: Stars vs. Blue Jackets at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — Hocus Pocus at Sundown at Granada; Bonsai Bar at Lakewood Brewing Company; Cheerio — Music of Jolly Ole’ England at Stonebriar Community Church
Wednesday, October 22: Mavs vs. Spurs at the American Airlines Center
Thursday, October 23: Stars vs. Kings at the American Airlines Center; Cool Thursday Concerts — Seger System | Ultimate Bob Seger Tribute at the Dallas Arboretum
Friday, October 24: NatNews IT Department Appreciation Day; Pop 2000 Tour at Legacy Hall
Saturday, October 25: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Ennis Autumn Daze Festival at Downtown Ennis (also on Sunday); 2025 Dallas Brew Festival at Old City Park; Halloween Par-Tee at PGA Frisco; Movie Nights at City Park — Coco
Sunday, October 26: Cowboys vs. Broncos Watch Party at Legacy Hall; Candlelight — A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics at Frontiers of Flight Museum

NatNews: Issue 187

Mon, 13 Oct 2025 11:59:24 +0100

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October 13, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 187

THE USE OF CUPPING THERAPY WITH ATHLETES (AND WEEKEND WARRIORS)

If you’ve ever seen someone in the wild with large purplish circular bruising on his or her body, it’s more than likely not a contagious rash but the result of cupping therapy. This technique is an ancient healing method that uses suction to pull on one’s skin and increase blood flow to the affected area and is a common treatment used on athletes.

Dallas resident and physical therapist Elise Waller said while she does use cupping with her patients, it never serves as the sole treatment method.

“Cupping is a great adjunctive treatment tool, meaning that it’s something I’ll use in addition to other more foundational parts of care,” she said. “At its core, cupping is simply a form of decompression therapy. The negative pressure created by the cup helps lift and separate superficial layers of tissue, increasing blood flow and creating a temporary ‘space’ that can help reduce sensations of tightness, tension, or soreness.”

Waller said cupping is frequently used in the athletic world because it is quick and easy and can help athletes feel better, particularly when they are in the middle of heavy training blocks or competition schedules.

“It’s important to understand, though, that these kinds of ‘quick-fix’ recovery tools tend to get more of the spotlight than they deserve,” she said. “Cupping can definitely help someone feel less restricted or sore, but it’s only one small piece—not the foundation—of the recovery process.”

Dallas-area resident and elite runner Emmanuel Amadi said his sports massage therapist uses the cupping technique once every two weeks to promote an increase in blood flow in his hamstrings and calves.

“Cupping is an effective, low-cost, non-surgical method of treating musculoskeletal pain,” he said. “Given that, it is a proven tool for increasing muscle strength and resilience for athletes undergoing rehabilitation from injuries.”

The use of cupping can be helpful for those trying to overcome setbacks as well as healthy individuals simply trying to maintain their bodies. Those who have undergone it have noted that it can result in a reduction of pain and inflammation, decreased muscle tightness, and increased range of motion.

“Whether someone is dealing with pain or is totally healthy, the foundational mechanism is the same—decompression of superficial tissues,” Waller said. “For someone with pain or discomfort, that decompression can help calm sensitivity in the area and allow for more effective movement or loading afterward. For someone who’s healthy, it can simply help with general soreness or fatigue from training.”

Waller said what is key is a person, whether injured or healthy, understanding why he or she is using cupping.

“For an injured individual, it should never replace the real work—progressive loading, strength, and movement retraining,” she said. “For a healthy athlete, it’s more of a maintenance or recovery tool to promote comfort and tissue mobility.”

There are several recovery, prevention, and injury treatment therapies and techniques (e.g., massages, dry needling, active release technique, etc.) that individuals can experience to become or remain healthy and able to live the active lifestyles they desire. While cupping is not the only option Amadi employs, he noted that cupping helps rid of metabolic waste, providing relief from the heavy sensation a person might feel in his or her legs after undergoing muscle stress from a hard week of training or a long-distance race.

“Comparatively, I have found cupping to be more efficient in reducing inflammation in the hamstrings and calves areas since this technique is aimed at increasing oxygen and blood flow,” he said. “Other treatment modalities like dry needling, scraping, and soft-tissue or deep-tissue massages are aimed at reducing tightness or knots in the muscles.”

Just as Amadi uses several different treatment methods to keep his body intact and performing to the ability he desires, as previously mentioned, Waller also doesn’t simply rely on one form of therapy when treating each individual patient she sees.

“There’s really no strong evidence showing that cupping is more effective than other manual therapy techniques like soft tissue work, active release technique (ART), or dry needling,” she said. “They all create slightly different sensations and mechanical effects, but the bigger picture is that none of these tools is a cure-all.”

Waller said each technique can play a significant role, depending on the person and the situation, and can work together to help meet the individual’s needs and goals.

“I personally use cupping when I want to desensitize tissue—to make an area feel safer and more comfortable so that we can then load it properly,” she said. “That’s where the real lasting change happens. Cupping is a helpful tool in the toolbox, but it should never be the main strategy for addressing pain or performance limitations.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Alligators can stick their tongues out, but crocodiles cannot because of a membrane that holds their tongues in place inside their mouths.

WHAT ON EARTH IS A SOCIAL BIOME?

It turns out the word biome isn’t only used to describe types of ecological communities like rainforests, deserts, and tundras.

According to Jeffrey Hall, a professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas, and Andy Merolla, a professor of communication at UC Santa Barbara, each person has his or her own social biome—the individual ecosystem of relationships and interactions that shape one’s emotional, psychological, and physical health. And whether or not people know this specific term, many individuals understand the importance of its presence in their lives.

“Social interactions play a big part in my overall well-being,” Dallas-area resident Stacy McKinney said. “I have many monthly game nights, and it’s so great to catch up and have fun and eat good food together.”

People interact with others in a variety of settings, whether it’s ordering coffee from baristas, standing in line with other customers at the grocery store, participating in meetings with colleagues, or a number of other intentional and unintentional exchanges. Like many individuals, Dallas resident Matt McNutt said his daily social encounters can significantly impact his mood and well-being.

“Working remotely makes those everyday interactions—whether it’s chatting with family throughout the week, catching up with friends, or even making an effort to have impromptu conversation at the gym—really meaningful,” he said. “They help keep me grounded.”

Some people welcome various social situations, while others would rather keep them rather limited. However, purposely avoiding such interactions and, instead, isolating and disconnecting can make it more challenging for individuals to endure the social stress involved in being trusted and accountable relational partners. Dallas resident Alivia Brown said she considers herself much more of an extrovert and, even though she does occasionally need space away from others, she enjoys opportunities to engage with those around her.

“It fills me up to talk to my family and friends,” she said. “The more time I spend with my friends, the happier I tend to be. That said, I do definitely need alone time, too, in order to recharge for big social events.”

In their book The Social Biome: How Everyday Communication Connects and Shapes Us, Hall and Merolla pose the notion that our social biomes serve as essential components of our identities and beliefs. While Brown said she believes that this can be true in some capacity, she said at her core, her foundational beliefs are strong enough not to waver.

“While the people I spend my time with do impact them to some extent, I feel like most of the time, my beliefs remain true, irrespective of who I am around,” she said. “I think what changes more is how often I talk about those beliefs. I have many people in my life with many different beliefs than my own, and I think that’s what makes life interesting.”

Similarly, McNutt said he certainly recognizes that his social circles impact his beliefs and values, though more in terms of understanding and other viewpoints.

“I’m close with my family and friends, and we have a lot of open conversations,” he said. “I wouldn’t say that they change my core values, but they definitely help me see things from different perspectives and help me to stay open-minded.”

Harvard researcher Dr. David McClelland spent 25 years studying what makes a person successful, and the research he conducted suggests that between 95 to 99 percent of a person’s success or failure is determined by his or her “reference group” (those with whom one regularly interacts), as a person is influenced by the attitudes, behaviors, and worldviews of such individuals. This notion is one reason some people, including McKinney, find it essential to surround themselves with others who share what’s important to them.

“All of my social circles have my same core values and beliefs,” she said. “After my divorce, I made sure of that and did have to make changes.”

And it’s those individuals who have stood by McKinney through thick and thin, offering trust and support throughout the different seasons of her life.

“I am not sure how I could cope without my groups of friends,” she said.

Existing in your own social biome and ensuring that you interact and communicate with others on a regular basis is not always easy, as life can be busy and exhausting, and sometimes people simply want to hibernate. However, creating space and energy for an active social life can be beneficial, a belief Brown knows to be true in her own life.

“When I moved to Dallas and did not know anyone, I noticed I often felt sad,” she said. “However, the moment I started to find friends and community, it completely transformed the way I felt about the city, myself, and my outlook on life in general.”

Like McKinney and Brown, McNutt has also realized the importance of making efforts to maintain a consistent social life and surrounding himself with individuals who will contribute positively to his social biome.

“Especially after coming out of a long relationship, staying socially active has been key for my mental health,” he said. “It gives me balance, connection, and a strong sense of community—even if it’s just grabbing coffee or calling someone to chat with no agenda.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

The NatNews staff gathered with dear readers in vintage lighting over the weekend to witness another unfortunate outcome for the Dallas Cowboys

Upcoming
Events

Monday, October 13: Tell your people to subscribe to NatNews
Tuesday, October 14: Stars vs. Wild at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — Halloween (the original) at Sundown at Granada; Tech & Business Networking Dallas at HEXA Coworking
Wednesday, October 15: Dallasites101 Annual Pumpkin Painting at River Pig Saloon
Thursday, October 16: Taylor Swift Album Release Party at Columbian Country Club; Stars vs. Canucks at the American Airlines Center; Cool Thursday Concerts — Greggie and the Jets at the Dallas Arboretum; Candlelight — Tribute to Bad Bunny at Edison’s
Friday, October 17: AC/DC Tribute — Back in Black at Legacy Hall; Reckless Kelly at Longhorn Ballroom; Riptide Society Benefit Show at Community Beer Co.; Fright at the Museum at the Heard Museum; Nate Bargatze at the American Airlines Center (also on Saturday)
Saturday, October 18: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; 2025 Dallas Heart Walk at Levy Event Plaza; Grand Diwali Mela — Dallas Festival of Lights at Myers Park & Event Center; Pups in the Park at the George W. Bush Presidential Center
Sunday, October 19: Cowboys vs. Commanders at AT&T Stadium; Cowboys vs. Commanders Watch Party at Legacy Hall; The Boho Market at Klyde Warren Park

NatNews: Issue 186

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 11:59:25 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

October 6, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 186

PT WHAT?

Many employees have access to paid time off in their employment roles, though one Pew Research survey revealed that more than 40 percent of individuals do not use all of their allotted PTO. And just because people are taking vacation days doesn’t mean that they aren’t letting their minds escape work—another survey showed that 55 percent of workers sometimes respond to work emails or other work messages outside of their normal hours.

However, regardless of how many people are doing so, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a healthy decision to make. Hawaii resident Tara Janke said she believes that removing oneself from work completely every once in a while is definitely beneficial for one’s mental health.

“Taking a break from work seems like the most important thing to give your brain and stress level a chance to rest and reboot,” she said.

Janke said even if a person doesn’t take an extended vacation or days-long getaway, stepping away from job-related responsibilities can result in a mental and physical boost.

“Even if you are able to take little breaks throughout the day—taking a walk or enjoying a coffee—can make a huge difference,” she said. “For me, giving myself breaks when I can makes me work better in the long run.”

Like Janke, Fort Worth resident Marc Hall understands how necessary it is for a person to use as much of his or her PTO as possible.

“I notice a big difference, even after taking a day off from work during the week,” he said. “I’m recharged and focused the next day. I think this is important when it comes to working out, as well. Sometimes I just take a day off when my body tells me (but I do feel like I added on a few pounds of weight).”

Hall said he truly believes that using those offered PTO days provides both mental and physical health benefits and noted that he has read several articles indicating so. For him, something as simple as taking an unplanned day off or going on a longer planned vacation has historically allowed him to get the escape he needs to come back more focused and rejuvenated.

“Some of my best getaways fall into the ‘recharged’ category—usually a week abroad with a dedicated focus on a swim-up bar, offering time to relax and reflect on life,” he said. “The only real challenge is when a non-U.S. person I meet asks if I understand that a tariff is a tax on the people.”

Janke said she knows that getaways are not always feasible, but she is grateful that she lives in a destination setting and can enjoy other simple pleasures when she opts to use some of her PTO days.

“Vacations are the absolute best way to recharge, but from a day-to-day perspective, a little downtime with my favorite show, reading a good book, and a little time at the pool or beach help me a lot,” she said.

Finding a greater work-life balance can contribute to better overall mental and physical health, but many individuals struggle to do so and often experience stress and burnout. Additionally, it’s not uncommon for employees to feel like missing time from work would actually contribute to any existing stress.

“Life is so busy, and there are always things to get done, which makes it hard to take the necessary breaks,” Janke said. “It can be challenging for some folks who have extra work to do once they come back from a vacation.”

Determining priorities can be tricky at times, particularly when it comes to one’s career, but focusing on your own well-being—which includes taking time off work—can also help ensure that you’re performing your best in your job.

“I don’t think people take enough time to truly enjoy the things they enjoy,” Hall said. “Most people I know fall into one of two groups—those who can’t afford to take time off and those who get so focused on work that they forget to slow down. I’ve spent most of my life somewhere mixed in both of those, still enjoying life along the way. Only in the last five years, though, have I really made time to enjoy life even more—through travel, downtime, and moments that recharge me.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Before rubber erasers were invented in the late 1700s, rolled-up pieces of white bread were used to erase graphite.

THE PERILS OF THE DATING WORLD

The world of dating has evolved over the years—we obviously don’t live in the same world as Jane Austen and her beloved characters like Emma, Elizabeth Bennett, and Mr. Darcy, and being “pinned” certainly doesn’t currently have the same meaning as it did in the 1950s.

Dating apps grew in popularity beginning in 2012, and even those have changed drastically and altered the way singles interact, often creating frustrations for those seeking soulmates and leaving them wishing that there were simpler ways to meet people.

Dallas resident Damon Yousefy said dating is more challenging in our current environment because dating apps cause people to become less invested.

“As soon as something about a date is not exactly in line with what a person wants in an ideal partner, people continue swiping instead of approaching with curiosity and compromise,” he said. “People also need to be more upfront about their wants in a relationship—marriage, kids, staying at home or continuing their careers after children, etc.”

Dallas-area resident Morgan Fritz thinks a reason for the sometimes feelings of disappointment and frustrations with dating could be because single people aren’t as intrigued by dating apps as they used to be, and their views on dating and finding those who are compatible with them have changed.

“It’s not new and exciting anymore, and it can feel like a chore sometimes,” she said. “However, society has also largely evolved from the in-person dating scene that was before apps. I think we’re in this spot of ‘what do we do now?’”

No one seems to have a clear-cut answer to Fritz’s question, and people have different viewpoints and reasons for having the feelings they do. Orange County resident Hannah Chapman said one complicated aspect of the current dating scene is that people have set high standards for what they want to find in their partners, though they often don’t even meet those certain standards themselves.

“It’s also really easy to meet someone once on a date and find something small that doesn’t quite align with you and then write them off, rather than getting to know someone and seeing all of the things that do align,” she said.

Chapman said there are also several other factors that make dating difficult in today’s world.

“We don’t like to inconvenience ourselves, but getting in a relationship requires us to be inconvenienced,” she said. “We are also no longer focused on building a village—we’re focused on building ourselves.”

Many single individuals often experience frustrations because even though they may not be fans of dating apps, they aren’t quite sure of the best alternatives as options for meeting people in the wild.

“I think, as a culture, we could try to bring back elements of in-person dating again, but I’m not sure what that would be,” Fritz said. “But I also can’t think of a way to change the apps that would make them better, either.”

However, Fritz said she does think the ideal place to meet someone would be at an event, group, or setting in which people can become friends first without the immediate pressures of jumping right into dating.

“I’m shy, so this might just be a personal opinion, but there’s something that feels more promising about going out with someone you at least somewhat know,” she said.

Like Fritz, Chapman said she also believes that it would be nice to be able to meet other people without the sole focus being finding someone to date.

“I think we need more places for people to gather where the purpose is not dating, but mingling is encouraged,” she said. “You can meet a lot of cool people when the pressure is off, but you’re both doing something you enjoy.”

There are ways for like-minded individuals to meet in various settings, including through clubs and groups for running and other sports or fitness-related endeavors. Chapman, who plays in a social beach flag football league in Orange County, said she generally has a positive outlook in regard to her dating life, but it often depends on the day. Whatever her mood or situation at the time, she knows that it’s important not to be careless or have a closed-off attitude.

“I’d say there is no ideal way to meet someone—just an ideal mindset,” she said. “Be open and curious and willing to be vulnerable, and be smart about it.”

Yousefy said he thinks that one way single people would have more positive experiences in dating is if they adjusted their expectations a bit, though he said there are additional solutions that could also lead to improvements.

“I think dating could also get better if people were open about their objectives in order to respect the time of others,” he said. “It would also be beneficial if social clubs people are already involved in (gyms, affinity groups, etc.) hosted singles mixers.”

However, Yousefy said he believes that the ideal way for a single person to meet someone compatible is through a friend’s introduction.

“Hopefully the matchmaking friend knows what each person is looking for, and having a mutual friend discourages poor dating behavior, such as ghosting, since word would get back to the friend group,” he said.

Regardless of how people want to or choose to meet others, different single people also have different feelings in terms of hopes they have in meeting people with whom they could see futures. Some are still actively trying to make it happen, while others either don’t care enough to put in much effort or are too tired of doing so and are more focused on prioritizing other areas of their lives, such as their careers, friendships, and personal growth. Fritz said she currently has a positive outlook in believing that she is going to meet her lobster (if you didn’t watch Friends, just google it) soon.

“I’m focusing on building my own life right now in hopes that he’s doing the same,” she said. “The apps just don’t feel aligned for me, so I’m trusting that feeling and believing I’m going to meet him somewhere else.”

Similar to Fritz, Yousefy knows that another person will not complete his life, and it’s still important for him to enjoy what he already has. Overall, he said he also has a generally positive perspective in terms of his dating life because he’s happy as a single person.

“I have great friends, I’m physically active, and I am happy in my career, so my life is fulfilled, whether or not I have a significant other,” he said. “So, if I find someone special, I know she will be adding to my life, and it’s not just settling or avoiding loneliness.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Dear Tram, we found your license and conducted extensive research to track you down (P.S. your neighbor hates us)

Upcoming
Events

Monday, October 6: WWE Monday Night RAW at the American Airlines Center
Tuesday, October 7: National Taco Day; Free Rooftop Movie — Get Out at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, October 8: Dallas Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 27–37) at Birdie’s Eastside
Thursday, October 9: Cool Thursday Concerts — Boy Band Review at the Dallas Arboretum; Passion Pit at House of Blues Dallas
Friday, October 10: Le Freak at the Plaza at Toyota Music Factory; Jazz at the Museum at the Dallas Museum of Art; Twilight in Concert at the Majestic Theatre; Candlelight — Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas
Saturday, October 11: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Red River Rivalry at Cotton Bowl Stadium; Fall Festival at River Legacy Nature Center; McKinney’s Día de los Muertos at Dr. Glenn Mitchell Memorial Park; Sip & Shop — Barktober Market at Community Beer Co.; Mavs vs. Hornets (preseason) at the American Airlines Center
Sunday, October 12: Cowboys vs. Panthers Watch Party at Legacy Hall

NatNews: Issue 185

Mon, 29 Sep 2025 11:59:26 +0100

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September 29, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 185

PLANKING—MORE THAN A TREND FROM 2010

Having a strong core offers several advantages to one’s exercise endeavors and general daily life, but it doesn’t necessarily require an endless amount of crunches and sit-ups.

And it doesn’t even need to take more than a minute of your time each day.

According to Harvard Health, planking can be a better option than other abdominal workouts because the more stagnant exercise activates all of the core muscles at once and doesn’t require extra movements that can lead to stress or injury. Sets of planks for durations of anywhere from 10 seconds to 30 seconds on a consistent basis can prove to be highly beneficial, and Peloton even offers some tips on how to work up to a one-minute daily plank.

Dallas resident Courtney Hamstra, a trainer at Carrie’s Pilates, frequently incorporates planks into her classes she instructs because she said they are a dynamic exercise with several variations and modifications and are full of benefits for everyone.

“Planks are a foundational building block of core strength,” she said. “The static hold of a plank challenges stabilization and enforces increased balance and coordination.”

A person’s core includes multiple muscle groups covering one’s abdominals, back, hips, pelvis, and glutes. A weak core can result in several issues, including poor posture, neck and shoulder pain, and soreness in the knees and hips.

“Having a strong core is important for protecting your lower back and improving posture,” Hamstra said. “The stronger your core and the better your posture, the less risk you have for injury in training and out in the wild living an active lifestyle.”

There is not only one way to perform a plank hold—Hamstra said some of her most preferred variations include alternating shoulder taps while in a plank, alternating leg lifts, side planks, plank to pike (or plank to downward dog), and plank up-downs.

“I love to incorporate planks in some degree or fashion into each and every class I teach and in every personal workout session of my own,” she said. “Because there is no shortage of variations, you can keep your planks feeling fresh and challenging, preventing redundancy or plateau of effort and results.”

Planks are not for everyone, though, and some individuals opt to build core strength through alternative means.

“Try carrying a 55-inch LED TV on a flight of stairs, instead,” Dallas resident David Cerezo said. “Now, that’s a core workout.”

Cerezo, an avid runner who also took part in the Dallas HYROX 2024 competition, said he knows the significance of maintaining a solid core.

“As for quality and longevity of life, it’s super paramount,” he said.

While some of Cerezo’s strategies for building core strength might not be for everyone, he also has some more practical options for those who are looking for different movements or additional options to supplement planks.

“I do other core workouts besides planks, especially when randomly picking up my friends in the mosh pit during Texas native Kublai Kahn’s performance and squatting their body weights,” he said. “But if you’re at a gym, kettlebell training is legit for core and overall strength.”

Some individuals might need a little motivation when it comes to beginning or keeping up with including core work in their exercise routines. For those who respond well to the idea of callousing the mind and embracing discomfort and challenges, Cerezo would recommend listening to some words of wisdom from David Goggins.

For others who simply think of planks begrudgingly or have a love-hate relationship with them, Hamstra said she encourages individuals to try a different variation of the plank, such as dropping down to a forearm plank if a high plank is too much pressure on the wrists. She also said the best way to stay consistent is to find an exercise routine that one likes and feels rewarding.

“If you enjoy sunshine, solitude, and your own playlist, take your yoga mat out to a park, and curate your own workout routine to build a stronger core,” she said. “If your vibe is more high energy, finding a group exercise class with loud music and a community might be more your speed.”

Hamstra also recommends having a willingness to occasionally try new forms of exercise in order to develop that routine and excitement for working out and building core strength.

“If you’re looking for more of a meditative/zen-focused movement, yoga is excellent for your core,” she said. “So, figure out what your vibe is, don’t be afraid to modify or change things up when needed, and remember that having a strong core is the key to longevity and vitality.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Illinois is the leading pumpkin-harvesting state in the U.S., producing 485.1 million pounds of pumpkins in 2024 (for comparison, Indiana was second with 159.8 million).

40 YEARS OF MICROSOFT EXCEL—AND THE BLESSING OR PLAGUE IT IS ON YOUR LIFE

In 1985 (for those who struggle with math, that was 40 years ago), Microsoft Excel was initially introduced and has become a staple in the lives of plenty of individuals.

It’s estimated that more than 750 million people worldwide use Excel. Many of them, including Dallas-area resident and financial analyst Kirsten Kraske, are either required to or choose to do so in their jobs. Kraske said she works on a financial planning and analysis team, and several of the team’s processes are in Excel. In her role, she uses it for budgeting, forecasting, comparisons, formulas, etc. and said she currently would not be able to survive and function well without it.

“If I didn’t know how to use this tool, my job would be very, very hard,” she said. “There’s not really another tool that compares to it, but with wider use of AI tools, I do think parts of Excel might start to dwindle away over time.”

For those who don’t know how to use Excel well, Microsoft provides support, and other free options, such as training on Coursera, offer free education and certification. Kraske said she appreciates the benefits the spreadsheet program offers on a day-to-day basis.

“I love how easy Excel is to use,” she said. “We have a lot of learning modules at work on how to use the tool. I love that it’s relatively fast, doing analysis is easy, and it helps with organization.”

But Kraske is aware that Excel is not completely flawless.

“I know there are workarounds to this, but I wish it was easier to collaborate with others on a worksheet, and I wish the ability to share it was easier,” she said. “Oftentimes, the files are too big to send over email, and thus, you need to find another way around this.”

Like Kraske, Dallas resident and project manager Erasmo Estrada helps keep Excel in business, as he said he uses it at least every weekday. In his professional life, he employs the tool for project budgeting, bid comparisons and analysis, invoice tracking, and organizing information that is mostly cost-related. For his personal life, he uses Google Sheets for personal finances, marathon training, car maintenance, creating travel budgets, and some cost analysis (e.g., comparing costs of vehicles), and he also enjoys tracking his own media consumption to reference what he’s watched and read, games he’s played, concerts and he’s shows experienced, etc.

Also similar to Kraske, Estrada said he finds Excel to be an essential component of his life.

“Living without it just seems to make things I use it for more annoying,” he said. “It’s like asking me to hand wash my clothes when I have a washer or to stop using spoons because they make eating cereal too easy. I’m imagining handwriting a project budget or fiddling around with a stupid table I force into Word, and it’s getting me riled up, and I don’t even hardly have a need for deeper Excel usage. I guess I should look at the bright side—Excel isn’t going anywhere.”

And despite his affinity for Excel, Estrada is also able to acknowledge that there are some disadvantages and improvements that could be made to the spreadsheet program.

“It requires a license, so I just use it through work, but that’s what Google Sheets is for personally,” he said. “Also, it may not be the best tool for a large, complex, or maybe specific task, and it often relies a lot on human entry—and we’re known to make mistakes.”

Excel also has its fair share of haters, including Dallas-area resident Stephanie Hone. Prior to her current role as a growth and development consultant, Hone held positions as an account manager and then client service consultant. The transition allowed her to escape the grip of Excel.

“Before I changed departments, I used Excel quite often—multiple times a week,” she said. “Now, I rarely need to use it, and that makes me happy.”

Hone was a teacher before making a return to the corporate world and said she used Google Sheets more than Excel while in education and would certainly choose it over the Microsoft software. However, in general, neither one is exactly conducive to her style and preferences.

“I dislike it because it’s tables and spreadsheets,” she said. “Some people thrive working in those. I don’t thrive. I don’t even ‘th.’”

While certainly not absolute, it’s possible that a person’s inclination for or aversion to Excel is tied to various aspects of his or her personality. Some people might opt to use it to track health and fitness metrics, plan a wedding, monitor expenses, and create schedules and lists, while others might have sticky notes all over the place, rely more on notes apps on their phones, or simply keep track of what they need to in their heads.

“Personality type being the driver of enjoying and using Excel is an interesting thought,” Estrada said. “If you’re an analytical person who enjoys organization, then I’d imagine you have a tendency to like Excel or at least appreciate using it.”

Kraske said she thinks everyone should learn how to use Excel for personal reasons, particularly in terms of budgeting, but she can see how more dependency on and preference for the tool can be related to one’s personality.

“I think more Type A, organized, structured-thinking people probably really love working in Excel,” she said. “Others who are more fluid probably prefer the more creative side of things, like creating an awesome PowerPoint deck.”

Hone, who might not really be much of a Microsoft person at all, said she definitely believes that Excel use can be indicative of personality type, as she sees the differences in the character trait dynamics of her own marriage.

“My husband works in Excel all day long—he’s an introvert,” she said. “I’m an extrovert. I don’t know much about much, but I feel that masterminds who love working behind the scenes are brilliant with Excel, and people who love to be in front of people and talking to them thrive by presenting—I guess in PowerPoint, which I also don’t like.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff, dear readers, and dogs enjoyed a beautiful Saturday of college football together

Upcoming
Events

Monday, September 29: National Coffee Day
Tuesday, September 30: Free Rooftop Movie — Cruella at Sundown at Granada; Dua Lipa at the American Airlines Center (also on Wednesday)
Wednesday, October 1: 9th Annual Uptown Block Party
Thursday, October 2: Taylor Swift Live Band Karaoke Night at Legacy Hall
Friday, October 3: Life of a Showgirl Release Party at Texas Live!; The Village Fall Main Street Fest at The Village Dallas; Candlelight — Tribute to Beyoncé at Cathedral of Hope
Saturday, October 4: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Irving Oktoberfest Half Marathon at Toyota Music Factory; Champs Run Club Dallas at Champs Sports; Free First Saturdays at The Nasher; Frisco Oktoberfest at The Star; Stars vs. Avalanche (preseason game) at the American Airlines Center
Sunday, October 5: DMA Free First Sundays — Access for All at the Dallas Museum of Art; Cowboys vs. Jets Watch Party at Legacy Hall

NatNews: Issue 184

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 11:59:24 +0100

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September 22, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 184

PROSTATE CANCER AWARENESS MONTH—A SURVIVOR'S STORY

September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, which seeks to raise understanding and further educate individuals on the most common type of cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) diagnosed in men in the U.S.

According to the American Cancer Society, one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. Dallas-area resident Mark Olateju learned of his prostate cancer in 2014, though he said his prostate-specific antigen (PSA) numbers were suspiciously high during his previous year’s visit to his doctor. Olateju said such a diagnosis wasn’t something he expected.

“My initial reaction was shock,” he said. “Why me? I ate right, didn’t drink or smoke, exercised regularly, and felt great.”

The PSA blood test is one of the options for prostate cancer screening tests, conducted prior to an individual experiencing any symptoms, and can help determine if further tests might be needed to look for prostate cancer. Early detection is important—though prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer, the five-year survival rate is greater than 99% when the disease is detected in its earliest stages.

Olateju, a math teacher, said he was fortunate enough not to experience significant setbacks and challenges, other than truly coming to realize his mortality for the first time.

“Family, friends, work, exercise, and staying busy aided me immensely during my journey,” he said. “I had no outward symptoms and didn’t feel bad, so I continued to run and race and even ran the Dallas Marathon the day before my prostate cancer surgery. I scheduled my surgery for the week before the winter break to impact my students the least.

Eight years post-surgery, Olateju had a recurrence of his prostate cancer and underwent 37 sessions of radiation treatment. He said his school provided him the flexibility to leave 30 minutes early each day for his treatments.

“I was fortunately able to drive myself, experienced minimal side effects, and have been clear once again for two years now,” he said.

While going through cancer journeys can often significantly alter people’s perspectives and habits, Olateju said he does not live his life any differently post-cancer than he did pre-cancer.

“I’ve been the kind of person who did what he wanted if I felt it was right and have never cared about public opinion, what most people do, or fitting in,” he said.

Olateju, who is a beloved and respected individual in the Dallas running community and among his students and colleagues, not only knows what it takes to lead the lifestyle he desires but also—as a now two-time cancer survivor—serves as an example to others of how to face adversity with strength and optimism.

“You must have a positive mindset and be resilient to battle cancer,” he said. “Try to surround yourself with optimistic people, and fight until you can’t any longer.”

DID YOU KNOW?

During peak operational times (between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Central) in the U.S. national airspace system, there is an average of more than 5,500 aircraft in the sky every minute.

DO TEXTING HABITS ACTUALLY MEAN ANYTHING?

While in-person conversations and interactions allow individuals to determine tone, receive immediate replies, and recognize nonverbal communication, texting can sometimes create confusion and overthinking, especially when another person takes a longer time than one desires to reply.

Dallas resident Suzanne Woodling said she generally responds within a few minutes of receiving a text if she is available and/or it’s an easy response, though she doesn’t think doing so is necessarily a standard that should be expected in every instance.

“I think we all put undue emphasis on response time,” she said. “We typically want a response ASAP, but very seldom does a text message indicate the need for an immediate answer. If someone needs an answer immediately, I think they should indicate that in the text and follow up with a call.”

Dallas-area resident Ivan Alonzo said if he is in an active text exchange (e.g., a conversation), he can and will respond right away. Otherwise, he usually responds as quickly as time allows or the conversation necessitates, though he recently enabled his phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature to mute incoming notifications during business hours.

“During the work week, I may go a few hours before I see a text message, which I think most people recognize and expect from others when they reach out midday,” he said. “In the evenings, I typically have my hands full with the littles or their extracurriculars, so my phone is not at the top of my focus.”

Dallas-area resident Alexis Derrow said her texting habits change throughout the day and depend on what she is doing at the time, but if she’s at work, she might not reply until the end of the day or a few days later—which helps allow her to be more understanding when she doesn’t see the typing bubble shortly after she sends a text.

“If it’s during the work day, there shouldn’t be an expectation for an immediate response,” she said. “People have their jobs. If they’re not at work, it’s extremely important for people who want to date me to reply quickly. For friends, I figure they’ll get to it when they get to it.”

Though texting is a common way for individuals to have both short and long exchanges, it certainly isn’t everyone’s preferred method of communication. Dallas resident Braden Keefer said he tends to be on the slower side to reply to texts if he is busy or preoccupied, unless he receives a message about something pressing or is already actively texting someone at the time.

“When the text requires a timely answer and isn’t leaving the other person hanging—like if you’re making plans with someone who needs confirmation or information about what you are doing—then you should respond promptly,” he said. “When it comes to dating, if you’re having a conversation, you shouldn’t leave them waiting for much longer than a few hours if you’re being intentional. I think friendships are different, especially if you’re already very close. There’s a certain point when texting becomes tiresome.”

Sometimes, time response, length of response, responding to all parts of a text, etc. can provide communication beyond the message itself to the recipients. Keefer said while this can be true, it depends on the context in which the text was sent.

“If what you’ve texted doesn’t warrant much of a reply, then I don’t think you should expect much of one,” he said. “I’m also strongly of the opinion that communication should not be texting-based. If you have something to say, want to see someone, etc., make plans to see them—texting only goes so far.”

In a similar sense that one might prefer in-person interactions to texting, leading to occasional misunderstandings if that individual is more standoffish when messaging, Woodling said there are a variety of factors that contribute to a way a person texts, whether generally or in different situations.

“I think in friendships and relationships, you tend to feel out each other’s cadence,” she said. “Some will expect quicker responses than others. Trust in relationships also plays a role in delivery and response expectations, and response times can vary as relationships shift. Personality types also can play into it. Some people have different senses of urgency.”

Alonzo said he thinks that it’s generally important to reply quickly, though there should be a mutual understanding that everyone is an adult with responsibilities and not on standby for text messages, whether those be with a friend or romantic partner. However, he said he believes that much can still be said for a person’s reply.

“A quick response tells me my message is a priority and worthy of a fast response,” he said. “The length can, at times, be telling of interest level or mood. I think the same can be said when all parts of the text are responded to, versus a short/dry response or ignoring parts of the message.”

And Alonzo knows that the replies he receives and time between messages are contingent upon the context of those exchanges.

“Sometimes a short ‘yes,’ ‘no,’ or emoji is more than sufficient,” he said. “If the topic is beyond casual conversion or more of a serious discussion, it’s more likely to require a lengthy message with some substance.”

Keefer said he typically doesn’t take a short response, lack of response, or delayed response personally, though it depends on if it’s important or regarding something important to him, which can result in frustration to such responses.

“Most of the time, when it’s just a surface-level conversation, I don’t think much of it, because everyone is mostly dealing with their own lives,” he said. “I would much rather make plans to see my friends, family, and romantic interests in person, as opposed to just texting them.”

For Derrow, how she feels when not receiving prompt replies or no response at all can often be a direct reflection of her mood at the time.

“I don’t take it personally—unless I’m in a downward spiral that day, and then I take it very personally,” she said.

And just as Derrow’s frame of mind can determine her interpretation of another’s prioritization of texting her back, Woodling said there can be several reasons as to why a person’s reply causes another to potentially spin around in a world of overanalysis or become offended, whether warranted or not.

“I think the short, delayed, or lack of response can be equally helpful or hurtful, but it depends on a number of variables,” she said. “Women are typically more chatty, so they might read more negativity into a short response—but sometimes it’s just a response.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews PR, a dear reader, and our sole investor recently enjoyed a lovely round of golf together

Upcoming
Events

Monday, September 22: Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 26–36) at Texas Live!
Tuesday, September 23: Stars vs. Wild (preseason game) at the American Airlines Center; Free Rooftop Movie — Friday at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, September 24: Wine’d Down Wednesday — Carrie’s Pilates in the Park at Trinity Groves Park; Rangers vs. Twins at Globe Life Field
Thursday, September 25: Cool Thursdays Concert — Homegrown (Zac Brown Band Tribute) at the Dallas Arboretum; Last Splash of Summer Country Concert at The Village Country Club
Friday, September 26: Jamie Wolf at Dallas Comedy Club; Oktoberfest Weekend at Community Beer Co. (goes through Sunday); State Fair of Texas Opening Day at Fair Park
Saturday, September 27: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Messtival at AT&T Discovery District (also on Sunday); Movie Nights at City Park — Twisters on Harwood Street; Puppy Yoga at Community Beer Co.; Sandy Pickle Beer Olympics at the Sandy Pickle; Oktoberfest at Legacy Hall
Sunday, September 28: Cowboys vs. Packers at AT&T Stadium; Cowboys vs. Packers Watch Party at Legacy Hall; Millennials vs. the World at Texas Theatre; Candlelight — Queen vs. ABBA at Irving Arts Center

NatNews: Issue 183

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 11:59:26 +0100

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September 15, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 183

THE MARATHON MIGHT NOT BE THE ONE-TIME THING YOU THOUGHT IT WOULD

Each year, more than 1 million individuals make the conscious choice to run marathons, and many of them are doing so for the first time. Different people have different reasons for opting to put in months and miles of training to take on the 26.2-mile distance in an event for which they likely paid a hefty chunk of money.

For many of these participants, though, crossing that finish line is often about much more than running.

“I think people are interested in running a marathon because it gives them a source of accomplishment,” Dallas resident and White Rock Running Co-op admin Chet MacArthur said. “A lot of people see a marathon as the pinnacle of fitness and discipline, so being able to run one is a big deal for most people.”

Dallas resident Katie Butler is training for the BMW Dallas Marathon in December (the full and ultra are now sold out for this year’s events), when she will line up with thousands of others to trek through the city before returning to downtown to cross the finish line at Dallas City Hall Plaza. This will be Butler’s first race covering such a distance.

“For me, running a marathon is all about outdoing myself physically and athletically,” she said. “I have been pretty invested in fitness for five years now, and as I got stronger, I found I was achieving goals and getting bored or lacking a goal. This is something I never thought I could do, and it’s nice to work toward a goal when you can see progress in real time.”

Butler ran her first half marathon last year and has since run two more. But it turns out that wasn’t enough for her.

“The excitement kind of wore off, so naturally, I had to level up,” she said.

MacArthur was once in similar shoes (figuratively, obviously) when he trained for and ran his first full at the Los Angeles Marathon in 2024. Since then, he has run two more marathons (Dallas in 2024 and Rock ‘n’ Roll San Diego earlier this year), though completing this race distance was not originally a goal MacArthur envisioned for himself.

“All of my life, I hated running and always thought a marathon was unattainable,” he said. “Going from running only a few miles a week to 26 miles at once seemed like a monumental task.”

But for whatever reason, MacArthur became up for that task. While training for Los Angeles, he said it was often difficult to restructure his schedule to make sure that he fit in every run and got the mileage he needed and to determine the appropriate plan for the marathon in terms of both training and diet. And when the actual marathon day finally arrived, MacArthur said the most challenging component of the race he faced was the actual race itself.

“While I had done long runs, I had never done any official races and, therefore, felt overwhelmed getting to the race and holding everything together for the entire race,” he said.

That race anxiety can often serve as energy to help get one through a marathon, and people who planned to be one-and-done marathoners frequently find themselves hitting that register button for another 26.2. Helsinki resident Sophia Rahimeh ran her first full last October at the TCS Amsterdam Marathon and said she didn’t exactly expect to be someone with multiple marathons among her list of accolades.

“I’ve always pictured myself continuing to run and race throughout my life but assumed that a marathon would be more of a one-time thing, as I’m much more used to 5K, 10K, and half marathon distances,” she said. “I’ve now raced two marathons and am planning on running a third in the spring. I’ve enjoyed pushing myself to new limits and am considering doing an ultra next summer.”

For those new to running and/or marathon training, there are several helpful resources, including local running groups, coaches, and online training plans. It’s important to find what works best for you to ensure that you effectively build your mileage, fuel properly, and stay injury-free so that you’re ready on race day.

But be prepared that there might be moments during marathon training when you question your sanity or choices in life but still manage to come to appreciate the process.

“What I enjoyed most about training was that it gave me something to constantly be working toward,” MacArthur said. “I had been working out/jogging for a few years but had never had an event like this to orient my entire life toward. After the race, I realized that I had never exercised discipline on that scale, and that was the addicting part that got me hooked.”

And now there’s no turning back for MacArthur, who is training for another marathon yet again. For him, there is genuine purpose in doing so.

“I love the feeling of always having something outside of work to look forward to and orient my life toward,” he said. “I think it’s important to find a sense of accomplishment outside of work.”

On a similar level of a desire for achievement, Butler said she enjoys taking on feats that she never thought she could and gets a high from being able to do so.

“Running was always super difficult for me growing up—I was overweight and slow,” she said. “It was just something I thought I could never do. Being able to go out and run 12 miles on a random Sunday and go about my day is insane. It’s cool doing what other humans can’t and having the mental toughness to go with it.”

DID YOU KNOW?

An octopus has nine brains—one central brain in its head and eight ganglia (one in each of its eight arms) that act as smaller independent brains that manage movement and sensory functions.

CANDY CORN—BUTTERY DELICIOUSNESS OR WAXY NOTHINGNESS?

In the late 1800s, a candy initially known as chicken feed became available in the United States and later became a well-known and often notorious member of the Halloween candy lineup after its name change that, when said aloud, can create a bit of chaos.

For whatever reason, the goodness or grossness of candy corn has become quite the polarizing issue, often causing spirited debates among friends and coworkers as to whether or not it’s a confectionary blessing or essentially chunks of candle wax sold as a digestible treat.

Of the dear readers who participated in a recent NatNews research initiative, 38 percent indicated that they think candy corn is gross, 34 percent are big fans of the seasonal candy, and 28 percent are indifferent. Montana resident Karen Brinkmann is an avid candy corn consumer and doesn’t quite understand why anyone wouldn’t be.

“How is it possible that someone might dislike the buttery deliciousness of every amazing kernel of candy corn?” she said. “It’s unthinkable. Candy corn melts in your mouth and lights up the world in a perfect array of orange and yellow.”

While Dallas resident Craig Borkenhagen might not picture the same utopia as Brinkmann when he eats the popular yet often controversial candy, he certainly has a somewhat similar perspective to the joy it can provide, noting that such an experience is best when the candy corn is fresh.

“I like the slightly honey-flavored taste it has and the way it breaks down or melts in your mouth,” he said. “Of course, you might bite into one that’s been sitting out too long and has become hardened.”

Unlike Brinkmann and Borkenhagen, Dallas-area resident Emily Fred said she only likes candy corn during a specific time of year and in small quantities. Overall, though, eating it doesn’t exactly leave her feeling too great.

“I don’t like the pure sugar and how my teeth feel after,” she said.

And then there are those individuals, including Fort Worth-area resident Sam Parnell, who simply can’t understand why anyone would want to subject oneself to candy corn’s unappealing taste.

“It just tastes like waxy nothingness,” he said. “It’s not really good or bad—it’s just nothing.”

Regardless of whether or not you’re a fan of the tri-colored triangular treat, there’s no denying that it’s become a staple of the Halloween holiday and seen in abundance throughout the fall season. Because of its bright orange hue and limited availability, even candy corn haters like Parnell can acknowledge that it’s an important component of the holiday for many people.

“It’s probably a nostalgia and emotional connection thing,” he said. “It’s been around forever, and it is iconically Halloween, so I get how it can remain popular and part of the tradition.”

Fred said she thinks that many current adults have an affinity toward candy corn because of people’s previous historically higher tolerances for pure sugar.

“I’m also sure that candy technology was garbage back then, so it was a cheap way to theme sugar and set a time limit on how long we can enjoy candy corn,” she said. “So, therefore, it became an idealized treat in our childhood imaginations.”

While the scent and sugar rush can certainly bring back childhood memories of simpler times, Borkenhagen said he believes that there are other reasons people are inclined to grab for handfuls at a time of the brightly colored candy.

“First, I don’t think it would be such a staple if people didn’t like it,” he said. “So its popularity has got to be a dominant factor. I bet it has something to do with the shape and color, too—people like the tri-colored thing it has going (I know sometimes I like to bite each color one at a time) and the slightly pointed shape. I don’t know what it is about the shape specifically, but people must like it, too.”

While it is possible to find candy corn for sale in its off-season period, it’s certainly much easier to obtain this time of year. However, Brinkmann doesn’t think its scarcity surrounding other holidays and seasons is a factor in why people are more inclined to claim their undying devotion to it.

“Some might say it’s so wildly popular and considered the Best Candy in the World™ because it is only offered for such a small time in the year, but I disagree,” she said. “I think it would be delicious if it were available all year-round. This has me thinking now. Maybe I should stock up this year and build a root cellar and sell it throughout the year in 2026.”

According to science, the part of the brain that processes smell (which also impacts how a person processes taste) is in the same part of the brain where individuals store memories and evoke emotion. In this limbic system of the brain, strong connections—particularly those involving events of childhood—occur. Thus, adults who have fond Halloween memories that included such a staple candy as candy corn have an appreciation for the treat, while those who either have more negative memories surrounding the holiday or recollections of the candy causing an unwanted taste are more inclined to still detest its existence.

Borkenhagen said he remembers candy corn as being a sufficient “filler” candy.

“It’s never the star of the show,” he said. “It’s relatively unassuming and doesn’t try to do too much or be too flashy. It’s one of those candies that can just complement everything else in your bag of loot.”

For Fred, eating candy corn is more simply out of tradition than actually having any sort of craving for it.

“I always have to have a few pieces and eat each section by section,” she said. “Otherwise, it’s just decorative and then makes me mad because it tempts me to eat it, even though I know I’ll be mad at myself if I do. The curse of the candy corn.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews staff and dear readers were recently honored to celebrate dear reader Elizabeth Cruz at her wedding

Upcoming
Events

Monday, September 15: Your 101 to Young Professional Groups at Communities Foundation of Texas; National Double Cheeseburger Day
Tuesday, September 16: Free Rooftop Movie — Bridesmaids at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, September 17: Dallas Observer Beer Collaboration Release Party at Community Beer Co.; The Summer I Turned Pretty Finale Watch Party at Griggs Park
Thursday, September 18: Candle Making & Women’s Health Discussion at Davis Street Mercantile; Chocolate and Art Show at Lofty Spaces (also on Friday; Tate McRae at the American Airlines Center
Friday, September 19: The Boho Market at Preston Hollow Village; Candlelight — Tribute to Adele at Edison’s
Saturday, September 20: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; DogFest DFW at Community Beer Co.; Stars vs. Blues (preseason) at the American Airlines Center; Guns 4 Roses (Guns N’ Roses Tribute Band) at Lava Cantina
Sunday, September 21: Rangers vs. Marlins at Globe Life Field; Cowboys vs. Bears Watch Party at Legacy Hall

NatNews: Issue 182

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 11:59:24 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

September 8, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 182

FINDING YOUR INNER NEMO

Though outdoor pool season is beginning to wrap up for the year, it doesn’t mean that you need to say farewell to chlorine anytime soon. Whether as cross-training workouts or a form of main exercise, swimming is a great way for individuals to enhance their overall well-being.

Swimming not only can help reduce the risk of chronic illnesses (such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and strokes) but can also improve mental health, as being in the water and engaging in exercise can allow a person to feel more relaxed and less stressed, and improve cognitive function.

Dallas resident and triathlete Mike Hart said he learned how to swim properly shortly after he signed up for his first triathlon in 2022.

“Unlike running or cycling, I couldn’t just muscle my way forward in the water,” he said. “I quickly realized that technique is everything.”

Hart said swimming has taught him more patience and has also helped sharpen his breath control and ease some tightness in his back and shoulders. It’s now become a beneficial activity he truly enjoys and takes part in on a regular basis.

“Over time, swimming became not just a workout but a fun sport that left me feeling stronger and mentally refreshed,” he said. “Swimming also opened me up to amazing triathlons, some of the most fun endurance events around.”

Australian professional triathlete Regan Hollioake said swimming is an effective way for individuals to develop fitness without stressing the body’s joints, bones, and muscles in the way that higher-impact sports (such as running and cycling) do.

“Swimming builds cardiovascular fitness, increasing your overall endurance and making your body more efficient at supplying oxygen during all three disciplines, with the added benefit of being low-impact, giving your body a break from the heavy demands of running and riding,” she said. “You can use your swim to complement the others without the same risk of injury.”

The buoyancy of the water provides relief to a person’s body, taking off weight but still adding resistance. According to the Cleveland Clinic, such a benefit is especially helpful to individuals with arthritis, fibromyalgia, obesity, or reduced mobility as well as women who are pregnant. Swimming can also strengthen one’s heart, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce blood pressure.

“I also use swimming as a means of recovery after hard bike and run sessions, as it’s great for circulation, helps to reduce muscle soreness, and can be a nice mental reset after a hard session or day,” Hollioake said.

Like Hollioake, Hart has also discovered that knocking out some laps in the pool is an effective way to give his body some relief while also building strength and fitness.

“Swimming is one of the rare workouts that can be both a recovery aid and a powerful training tool,” he said. “The water supports your body, easing the load on joints, and lengthens muscles in ways land sports can’t. At the same time, swimming engages your entire body and forces you to control your breathing, building endurance and lung function in ways that other endurance sports can’t.”

A person doesn’t have to be a triathlete, the spawn of Michael Phelps, or more than a weekend warrior to incorporate swimming into his or her exercise routine (though it’s obviously important at least to know the basics of swimming, and there are adult swim lessons for those who need or want to learn). Hollioake said she would strongly encourage individuals to have a swim analysis or join a swim group to help with correct form.

“Proper technique is everything in swimming, and it can be hard to make progress without some instruction,” she said.

Hollioake advises someone new to swimming on a regular basis not to be afraid to use swimming aids (such as flippers, floaty shorts, and pool buoys) if they help him or her develop better technique and feel more comfortable in the water. She also said it’s important to be consistent with swimming.

“Start with short but regular sets,” she said. “The more regularly you can go to the pool, the better your ‘feel’ for the water will become.”

Not everyone may be able to get to the pool every day or swim as long or far as desired, and not all swimmers will have the same workouts and motivations. Hollioake said an individual adding swimming to the mix needs to set realistic goals that work best for him or her.

“This could be to build up the number of laps or hit a certain time for 50 meters,” she said. “This helps keep you motivated when it’s feeling tough. Most importantly, make it fun! Go swimming with a friend, mix up your sets, and try some open-water swims.”

Hart also noted the importance of developing proper swimming form and to remember that it is a process that will take patience and the understanding that results won’t magically appear overnight.

“Racking up billions of miles with flawed technique can lead to frustration and maybe even injuries,” he said. “A good swim coach can spot inefficiencies pretty quickly, and there are billions of YouTube tutorials with drills that can make a difference. Over time, good technique makes swimming feel more flowy and fun and lets you actually push power through your strokes and go fast. Take your time, keep at it, and enjoy the progress.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Kiwi fruits (not the bird) are originally from China and were initially known as Chinese gooseberries prior to being renamed for marketing purposes in 1959.

THE POWER OF THE PUMPKIN

For some individuals, the start of the fall season is not contingent upon what the calendar says or what the temperatures are outside. Rather, the actual autumnal equinox is overshadowed by a certain beloved staple—the pumpkin.

Whether it’s a pumpkin-spiced beverage (Starbies love their PSLs), pumpkin-flavored treats, pumpkin displays (the Dallas Arboretum will have more than 100,000 pumpkins, gourds, and squash), or a number of other pumpkin-centric attractions, many people are simply drawn to the typically orange creator of joy. (Although, it is important to note that pumpkin-spiced items don’t contain actual pumpkin but, instead, typically comprise cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger, which combine to create the flavor many individuals have come to savor.)

Dallas resident Laura Hays said she believes that pumpkins are loved not only for the foods they help create but also for what they represent.

“Pumpkin-flavored treats are delicious, and they signal the beginning of fall, which is the best time of the year for many people,” she said. “The weather cools off, cozy sweaters come out, and leaves change colors.”

Dallas resident Eli Rodriguez runs with the Train Pegasus group, which meets several mornings throughout the week at a Starbucks, so he frequently sees individuals ordering drinks with pumpkin flavors during this time of year. And while he may not always indulge in seasonal lattes, you can bet that he’ll make other purchases with pumpkin images and aesthetics.

“I do buy Oreo cookies when they bring out the Halloween ones because it’s my favorite holiday,” he said.

However, not everyone prefers the taste of what many consider to be a seasonal gem that blesses their lives for a few months.

“I love fall, but I have never liked pumpkin-flavored anything,” Dallas-area resident Robyn Allen said. “I am unsure why people love it so much. I absolutely do not get it.”

The reason might actually have nothing to do with taste at all. In fact, research revealed that it’s another human sense that creates the fascination with pumpkin. The scents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger can spark fond, comforting, and cozy memories and emotions. Allen also believes that seeing pumpkins has a similar effect.

“I think people are drawn to the pumpkin aesthetic because it triggers an emotional response usually flooded with good memories,” she said. “When the leaves turn and the pumpkins are in season, we associate those things with weather that is a relief from the summer heat. The crisp air and warm soups or drinks are comforting.”

The changing of one season to another often symbolizes more meaningful and personal changes for some individuals, allowing them to reset and gain new perspectives. The fall season is a time when temperatures start to decrease, allowing many people to spend more time outside and see the natural changes taking place in the world around them. Such experiences in nature can produce cognitive benefits and boost one’s mood.

This type of idyllic setting has the ability to trigger feelings of fondness and the anticipation of upcoming holidays.

“People love autumn pictures, and pumpkins symbolize Halloween and Thanksgiving,” Rodriguez said. “This means that cooler weather, a cozy atmosphere, and spooky season are here.”

Pumpkins and the fall months also allow for decorators to tap into their creative sides in abundance. Hays, who often hosts celebratory get-togethers with friends, loves a good theme and opportunities to bring holidays to life.

“Pumpkins make fun displays, especially with all of the different varieties of colors and textures,” she said. “Then it’s time for Halloween, with pumpkin carving, costumes, and candy.”

When Halloween ends, the pumpkins do not disappear, as they are often included in other autumn and Thanksgiving decor, images, meals, and marketing. Linus may have waited all night for the Great Pumpkin, but perhaps he was actually expectant of something more than simply an oversized orange item.

“For most people, I believe that the pumpkin symbolizes the beginning of cultural and family traditions,” Allen said. “Holiday season is officially upon us, which mostly is exciting, as we get to spend time with family and friends. There is something magical about holidays that I believe has an effect on people to always want to recreate it and never give up on the idea of happiness.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

New album cover

Upcoming
Events

Monday, September 8: Dallas Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 27–37) at Birdie’s Eastside
Tuesday, September 9: Rangers vs. Brewers at Globe Life Field; Bonsai Bar at Celestial Beerworks; Free Rooftop Movie — Coming to America at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, September 10: 2025 State Fair Saddle Up at The Rustic
Thursday, September 11: Dallas Wings vs. Phoenix Mercury at College Park Center; Frisco RoughRiders vs. Northwest Arkansas Naturals at Riders Field; 39th Annual Grapefest at Historic Downtown Grapevine (goes through Sunday)
Friday, September 12: Late Night at the Museum at the Dallas Museum of Art; Luke Bryan at Dos Equis Pavilion; Candlelight — Tribute to Fleetwood Mac at First Presbyterian Church of Dallas
Saturday, September 13: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; Vitruvian Salsa Festival at Vitruvian Park; Pink Floyd Tribute — Bricks in the Wall at Legacy Hall
Sunday, September 14: Cowboys vs. Giants at AT&T Stadium; Ofrendas & Otoño Festival at City Park; PicklePAWlooza at the Sandy Pickle

NatNews: Issue 181

Mon, 01 Sep 2025 11:59:26 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

September 1, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 181

PRIORITIZING MENTAL HEALTH + HOW YOU'RE REALLY DOING

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, which seeks to promote hope and normalize seeking help by recognizing the warning signs for suicide, encouraging open conversations about mental health, and connecting people to proven treatment and resources.

A person’s mental health can be impacted by several factors—including family and community relationships, access to opportunities, and environmental circumstances—all of which contribute to an individual’s ability to thrive and experience optimal well-being. Dallas resident and licensed counselor Lucy Keith said she cannot think of anything more important than taking care of one’s mental health.

“The health, capacity, and strength of your mental and emotional health impact how you see the world, how you see yourself, how you show up in relationships, your quality of life, how you react and cope, the decisions you make, and so much more,” she said. “It’s also directly tied to your physical health outcomes and longevity.”

Research initiatives have revealed the strong correlation between mental and physical well-being, with conditions such as chronic stress, anxiety, and depression having significant impacts on sleep, digestion, heart health, immune function, and energy levels. Depression has also been linked to several chronic illnesses, including diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic diseases. Dallas-area resident and mental health advocate Khshaeta Cama said mental health should be prioritized as equally as physical health because of its connection with the immune and nervous system.

“Your body is a machine and needs all of its parts to work together, so if you’re in a depressive state, that function can cause issues to everything else—your sleep, blood pressure, pain, and thoughts,” she said. ”However, when your body is working together well and you are in a better state of mind, then you are able to understand yourself and what you need to help regulate those feelings, build relationships, understand the importance of healthy communication, and be able to work through issues you were once scared to address.”

Cama also said focusing on mental health can help motivate a person to develop the tools and skills needed to manage stress and regulate emotions and eventually be able to break through walls of sadness, stress, anxiety, and burnout.

“Prioritizing mental health helps your body create balance and peace,” she said. “It is similar to exercising continuously and straining the body. Your brain is the same. They deserve equal attention—or more given to your brain, as that is the power house of your body.”

While mental health tended to be more of a taboo topic years ago, it has been brought to light in recent years, especially with professional athletes and other well-known figures speaking out in support of making it a priority. And as Cama pointed out, the pandemic also highlighted its importance as individuals spent more time by themselves and experienced feelings of isolation.

“We were able to talk about it more openly because everyone was going through certain feelings of depression and anxiety when we did not know what was happening,” she said. “In the past, people were told to ‘tough it out’ and keep their struggles private. Now, people are more open, and public figures have made the idea of mental health something relatable for all people. Normalizing the advocacy for mental health and therapy has allowed for the culture shift in recent years, showing that we are human and should feel emotions.”

Like Cama, Keith also credited the uncertainty and isolation stemming from the pandemic for bringing mental health to the forefront, as that period of time helped shed light on how people were truly experiencing life and the variety of feelings that resulted from the unexpected situation that suddenly impacted the world.

“We had time to assess our lives and functioning, and taking away many of the typical distractions and packed schedules gave us all enough time to sit with ourselves and the state of the world, our purpose and priorities, relationships, functioning, emotions, etc.,” she said. “It also brought significant attention to our need for community and connection, which is a pillar of mental and emotional health. I think we didn’t have a choice but to recognize our fragility and need for one another, and luckily, from one conversation to the next, people began feeling more comfortable being open and honest about how they were doing.”

Just like maintaining and caring for one’s physical health requires effort and action (working out, eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, etc.), prioritizing mental health also means taking practical steps on a regular basis. Keith said personally and in her practice, she focuses on the basics, such as quality (and enough) sleep, daily sunshine, daily movement, balanced nutrition, stress management, screen management, and whatever form of stillness works for the individual.

“Some mental struggles require greater intervention and care as well as consideration of systemic issues, but everyone needs to have a strong foundation of basics to have the energy and regulation to tackle the big stuff,” she said. “I’m a big fan of journaling—not the 'Dear Diary' kind but the ‘I’m giving myself the next 5–10 minutes to dump every uncomfortable emotion and thought that’s stuck on me’ kind. It doesn’t need to be pretty or make sense, it doesn’t need to have correct grammar, and it doesn’t need to come to some sort of resolution. Just put pen to paper, and let your stream of consciousness flow.”

Keith also said she is a strong believer in going for a walk the second the feeling of a shift in mood or an intrusive thought occurs.

“Walking is an excellent, free, daily mental health tool,” she said. “It engages the body and senses, exposes you to nature, and can stop rumination in its tracks, and the bilateral, rhythmic movement mimics that of therapeutic interventions that support emotional processing.”

It’s also important to remember that others are battling their own issues, too, sometimes silently. People can help others and support one another’s mental health by treating each other with kindness and care and checking in with friends, even the ones who seem happy, helpful, and productive.

“They may just be really good at distracting themselves and performing,” Keith said. “Instead of asking friends, ‘how’s it going,’ when nine out of 10 times, we answer ‘good,’ try asking ‘so what’s going well, and what’s not going so well lately?’ Don’t let your friends off so easily. From there, listen and validate their feelings. Listen and validate.”

Just as Keith pointed out, Cama also recognizes that the seemingly small actions of listening, paying attention, and truly hearing people can have significant impacts that make others feel cared about and valued.

“That kindness is everything to someone,” she said. “Just being there for a person in those moments and being a friend are all that matter. People deserve to be cared for and loved in all their ways, and focusing on being present with others instead of trying to ‘fix’ someone is where it starts.”

DID YOU KNOW?

You are approximately 1 to 2 centimeters taller in the morning when you first wake up than at the end of the day because gravity compresses cartilage in your spine and other body parts that are able to spread out and decompress when you are lying down.

AND IN THE BLINK(ER) OF A CRINKLIN' EYE

Imagine that you’re driving down the road, peacefully listening to Taylor Swift or 90s pop or The Ticket or a podcast or whatever your audio choice is, and the car in front of you unexpectedly makes a turn without signaling. Or perhaps someone cut in front of you in your lane without the blinker letting you know it was going to happen. Your beautiful peace or car concert might be interrupted and suddenly turn into frustration.

According to a study conducted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), drivers who fail to use their turn signals account for more than 2 million accidents annually. What is more, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that failure to use turn signals is one of the most common causes of accidents and that drivers who fail to use their signals when turning or changing lanes are more likely to engage in other unsafe road behaviors, such as speeding and distracted driving.

Dallas-area resident David Recker said he has noticed that an overwhelming amount of drivers, especially those in Dallas, do not consistently use their blinkers when turning or changing lanes. He also poses the notion of a trend he’s noticed based on the vehicles individuals drive.

“Compared to living in Pittsburgh, a city renowned for awful drivers, Dallas drivers are the worst,” he said. “In my completely anecdotal experience, I’ve observed somewhat of a bell-curve pattern of relative value of the car aligning with whether or not signals are used. At the extremes—sh***y cars and high-end Beamers and Range Rovers alike—drivers don’t signal, and drivers of middle-range-value cars seem to be more conscious of signaling.”

Like Recker, Dallas resident Darlene Alcocer said she doesn’t think enough drivers use their blinkers, and she believes that this is a conscious choice those individuals make that stems from people being rather self-focused.

“Nothing gets me riled up more than someone who is selfish enough not to use their blinkers, as if it’s the hardest thing in the world to do,” she said. “Apparently, everyone is always concerned with ‘me, me, me, me, me’ and never the collective good of humanity. I can drive down the road here, and there’s no way I’ll encounter 100-percent appropriate blinker usage, especially in Dallas—and don’t even get me started on Houston.”

Dallas resident Drew Mbiam, however, thinks the question of whether or not the use of the blinker feature is adequate is a bit more contingent upon semantics.

“It depends on how you’d define ‘enough,’” he said. “Enough to avoid accidents? Yes. Enough to make driving stress-free? No.”

While Mbiam has been fortunate enough not to be part of any of those annual accident statistics from lack of signal usage, he does have a theory as to why blinkers aren’t used as often as they legally should be.

“A lot of people suffer from main character syndrome and feel like the world revolves around them,” he said.

While some individuals may be focusing solely on themselves, their actions certainly have the ability to have significant impacts on those around them. Alcocer said she wishes that more drivers would use their blinkers to avoid unnecessary safety issues and thinks that the lack of frequent use stems from people caring more about perception than the well-being of others.

“Using your blinker isn’t seen as cool,” she said. “Common courtesy is somehow viewed as a ‘soft’ thing to do, and it makes me angry because it’s actually dangerous. No one cares that you don’t look like a badass (insert annoyed emoji here). Your fragile ego is putting my life at risk, and on top of that, you’re just lazy.”

Many individuals also become caught up in the hurry-up world that currently exists, with people commonly mentioning how busy they are and rushing from one place to another. Recker said he thinks such a reality highly contributes to the no-blinker issue.

“I’m sure it has a strong negative correlation with distracted driving and also the fast-paced need to get from A to B as quickly as possible—meaning, as distracted driving increases, signal usage decreases,” he said.

In order to help better the safety of those on the roads, Recker has a solution that he believes would contribute to less carelessness from those in the driver’s seat.

“I’ve long advocated that all drivers should be retested at certain intervals, with increasing frequency at milestone ages,” he said. “It would bring in good revenue for the city, reinforce safe driving habits, and possibly keep drivers who can’t pass a test from getting behind the wheel.”

Mbiam, on the other hand, thinks it would be wise to use fear-inducing tactics on the general public to make individuals more aware of what could happen when they choose not to drive responsibly.

“Keep showing them car accidents and the fallouts from them until they use their blinkers more frequently,” he said.

Alcocer said she also thinks using a form of instilling a bit of fear in drivers would be effective, though her method would be more in the guilt and disgrace sense.

“I think we need to start bullying people who don’t use their blinkers,” she said. “Bring back public shaming. I would like to point out that throwing tomatoes at people was a pretty successful public humiliation tactic back in the day. They can’t arrest all of us.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Some of the NatNews staff, our sole investor, and dear readers recently celebrated with dear reader Elizabeth Cruz, who is getting married this month

Upcoming
Events

Monday, September 1: NBA YoungBoy at the American Airlines Center (also on Tuesday)
Tuesday, September 2: Free Rooftop Movie — Scary Movie at Sundown at Granada; Mahjong Social at Sadelle’s Dallas
Wednesday, September 3: Pantera at Dos Equis Pavilion
Thursday, September 4: Cowboys vs. Eagles Watch Party at Happiest Hour; Cowboys vs. Eagles Watch Party at Legacy Hall
Friday, September 5: Nelly at Dos Equis Pavilion; Flamenco in the Golden Age of Hollywood at the Latino Cultural Center (goes through Saturday); Dallas Silent Disco at Klyde Warren Park; Candlelight — Queen vs. ABBA at the Irving Arts Center
Saturday, September 6: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; SMU vs. Baylor at Gerald J. Ford Stadium; Rangers vs. Astros at Globe Life Field
Sunday, September 7: Dink & Drink Pickleball Tournament at the Sandy Pickle; DMA First Free Sundays — Access for All at the Dallas Museum of Art; Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix in Concert at the Meyerson Symphony Center (runs Thursday through Sunday)

NatNews: Issue 180

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 11:59:25 +0100

Trouble viewing this email? Visit NatNews online to view this issue or any of our archived issues!

August 25, 2025

NatNews

ISSUE 180

ARE EXPIRATION DATES ACTUALLY MYTHS?

If you are the type of person who doesn’t pay much attention to the dates listed on various food products, your nonchalance might not be a bad idea. After all, those dates aren’t necessarily indicative of food safety.

With the exception of its placement on infant formula, product dating is not required by federal regulations and is not an indicator of the product’s safety. And while there are no standard descriptions that must be applied when dates are placed on products to advise consumers on quality and freshness guidelines, the following are commonly used: “best if used by” indicates when the product will be of best flavor or quality; “sell by” informs the store of the date until which the product should be displayed for sale for inventory management; “use by” advises consumers of the last date recommended to use the product while it is at peak quality; and “freeze by” indicates the date by which a product should be frozen to maintain peak quality.

Dallas resident and medical doctor Carolyn Fan said whether or not she pays attention to a food or beverage advisory date depends on what the product is.

“For instance, honey doesn’t technically ever expire, and you can eat it forever,” she said. “I think any processed food expiration and sell-by dates are just best-by dates, and I honestly think the food just goes a little bit stale. But if it’s fresh produce or fresh food, I definitely believe in expiration dates. On my own, though, I definitely do not pay attention to expiration dates unless it smells weird or looks strange.”

Dallas and Denver resident and dietitian Lyndsey Kohn said she typically checks the dates for the milk she purchases for her coffee, but that’s mostly the extent of her concern.

“Since I buy groceries once a week, I usually don’t have to worry about expiration dates or food expiring,” she said. “I am usually buying fresh produce, so if I don’t eat it that week, it goes bad, and I’ll just throw it away.”

Some individuals, including Dallas-area resident Kyle Burnett, prefer to rely more on their senses than anything else when it comes to determining how wise it is to consume a product in question.

“I pay more attention to the smell test than the printed best-by date,” he said.

Burnett’s use of such a method to determine a food’s or beverage’s freshness is actually rather aligned with what many health professionals advise. In fact, the Cleveland Clinic recommends checking a product’s smell, examining it for mold, determining if its texture is different than what should be expected, and paying attention to its overall taste rather than focusing on the date listed on the product.

Kohn knows the aforementioned sell-by, use-by, and best-if-used-by dates are more for quality than safety, though she acknowledges that they are sometimes slightly more important for consumers to notice, especially from a health and safety standpoint.

“For perishable foods like meat, seafood, and dairy, the use-by date is absolutely helpful but is not a hard-and-fast rule,” she said. “Dairy is usually safe five days after the expiration date, but meat and seafood are much riskier for food-borne illnesses, such as salmonella, listeria, etc. Food-borne illnesses are a lot more common than people think, and a lot of times, it’s not from restaurants—it’s actually from your home-cooked meals.”

More information regarding general guidelines for freshness can be found on the Cleveland Clinic site. Fan said she is aware that the dates on most products are when they actually go bad, though she thinks it also might depend on how an individual stores the products and simply the system of the person, in general.

“But who knows?” she said. “I have a stomach of steel, and I have eaten street food from many different foreign countries that have looked very sketchy in the past, and people around me have gotten sick, but I’ve been completely fine. Thank goodness that my ancestors were exposed to terrible foods so that I now have a gut biome of a survivor.”

While that might not be the case for everyone, it’s not likely that consuming foods and drinks beyond the dates printed on their packaging will result in food poisoning or another food-related illness. Though this is certainly contingent on what the product is and the previously mentioned recommendations from the Cleveland Clinic, Burnett said he believes that most of those dates are merely to protect those selling the products.

“I think they can be a tool, and brands are probably being very conservative to what the actual date might be for CYA purposes,” he said.

Foods that tend to go bad more quickly usually have obvious signs that they are probably not safe to eat. If bread has mold, if an egg floats in water or gives off a foul smell, if milk has a sour smell or clumpy texture, and if a meat product has a pungent odor or slimy or discolored appearance, these are indications that the product should not be consumed. The advisory dates on such items can be more helpful to individuals who want to make sure that all of their products are safe to ingest, while other foods can go much longer without showing any signs of being potentially rotten.

“Any dry food—like pasta, rice, cereal, and canned foods—is usually safe,” Kohn said. “I’d be fine with eating those a month past the expiration date, assuming everything was still fine once I opened the can or bag.”

And for some people, including Fan, the limit of how long certain foods can stay good simply does not exist.

“I think honey, soda, and any processed foods do not actually really expire,” she said. “Especially Twinkies.”

DID YOU KNOW?

Octothorpe is the actual name for the symbol more commonly known as a hashtag/pound sign/number sign.

YOU + ME + FOOTBALL = PERFECTION?

With kids back in school and fall right around the corner, a familiar excitement has returned to the lives of several individuals—yes, football is back.

The NFL Preseason kicked off with the Hall of Fame game on Thursday, July 31, and the regular season gets underway on Thursday, September 4, as the Dallas Cowboys take on the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles. College football opened the season with two top-25 teams facing off in Week Zero as Iowa State beat Kansas State 24-21 Saturday in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland.

It’s a common occurrence during football season to see local sports bars packed with individuals gathered together on game day. While some are hardcore fans, others are merely there for the social aspect.

“Every year, I look forward to college football starting back up—but not really for the football,” Dallas-area resident Josh Odegard said. “I use it as an excuse to get friends together at a fun sports bar that will be playing the games.”

Odegard doesn’t support a specific team and often doesn’t really pay too much attention to what’s going on in any particular game. After all, that’s not really why he’s there, anyway.

“I don’t really care who wins or even who plays, but I like that it gives my group of friends another reason to go out and get drinks, especially since it means that summer is about to be over,” he said.

Unlike Odegard, Dallas-area resident Alexis Derrow does become invested in the games, especially when it comes to college football. As a graduate of Notre Dame, she is loyal to her Fighting Irish.

“I like to see how all of the games play out to see how they affect my team,” she said. “That takes up a lot of a Saturday. If I didn’t do a game watch, I’d be a hermit and never see my friends.”

Originally from the Chicago area, Derrow is less dedicated to the NFL, though she’s still up for watching games together when the opportunity arises.

“If people are getting together and I don’t need to run errands, I’m along for the ride,” she said. “The Bears are terrible, and I’m a bandwagon Cowboys fan.”

Dallas-area resident Steve Bergsman also enjoys meeting up with his friends to watch football, though he typically doesn’t do so when supporting his alma mater, Texas A&M University.

“I’m way too invested in the game to enjoy the noise and distractions of a bar or big group,” he said. “I prefer to watch in a focused setting where I can analyze plays, react freely, and not worry about casual fans talking over key moments. For other games, I’m more flexible. It really just depends on my interest level of the game and how much I really want to watch it. Nine times out of 10, though, I’m up for the social setting.”

And while Bergsman said he is “all in” when it comes to his Aggies, his rooting interest in and enthusiasm for certain NFL games has waned over time.

“Years of watching Jerry Jones screw up Dallas has turned me off from investing in the Cowboys anymore,” he said.

Regardless of one’s affinity or apathy for football or certain organizations, this particular sport has a way of creating bonds among strangers cheering for the same teams and allowing friends to spend cherished time together in inviting and high-spirited atmospheres.

“Even when I prefer to watch solo, I see how football season creates shared rituals—tailgates, fantasy leagues, group chats, and Monday morning recaps,” Bergsman said. “It gives people a common language and something to rally around.”

Like Bergsman, Derrow said she believes that football is a great creator of unity and togetherness.

“It’s fun to have a little interoffice rivalry with people from different colleges and see people repping their gear,” she said. “It’s a way to spend time with your friends that feels productive but actually is just hanging out. Day games are great because then you can just chill out afterward.”

And as Derrow recognizes, there’s an unexplainable but beautiful hope that many people have that can unite them with others and make them feel more connected to their teams.

“My favorite thing about football season is the three weeks before it actually starts,” she said, “when I delusionally believe that Notre Dame will bring home a championship before a soul-crushing loss to an unranked team.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

Some of the NatNews staff and dear readers recently celebrated the upcoming birthday of beloved dear reader Alexis Derrow

Upcoming
Events

Monday, August 25: Speed Dating & Singles Mixer (ages 26–36) at At Fault
Tuesday, August 26: Free Rooftop Movie — White Chicks at Sundown at Granada; Game of Thrones Trivia at Legacy Hall
Wednesday, August 27: Rangers vs. Angels at Globe Life Field; Dallas Wings vs. Connecticut Sun at College Park Center
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Friday, August 29: Candlelight — A Tribute to Adele at Edison’s; Riverfront Jazz Festival at Fair Park (goes through Sunday); Labor Day Weekend at Community Beer Co.
Saturday, August 30: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint; SMU vs. East Texas A&M (home opener) at Gerald Ford Stadium; Kali Uchis at the American Airlines Center; ABBA Tribute — Super Trouper at Legacy Hall
Sunday, August 31: Adoptable Puppy Yoga at Satya Yoga

NatNews: Issue 180

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 11:59:25 +0100