Welcome to a new year, dear readers!
 

How wonderful it is that every 12 months we each have another opportunity to turn the page, start fresh and gift our self with a “do-over”.  We usually call them resolutions and make promises to ourselves (and sometimes to others) about how we’re going to do better in specific ways.

Last January, my commitment was that rather than perennially making New Year’s resolutions. I would instead daily engage in a standing prayer request to God. In 2014 I am asking Him to help me to love more, give more and serve more. To remind myself to take specific action, I then noted several ways in which I would like divine assistance in each area.

To improve my love for difficult people, individuals that are hurting, and my closest family and friends. To give more time to listen to God, my own heart and those with whom I come into contact. To better serve those in need of care as well as those that just need to be heard; to break limiting habits and more freely offer my talents to worthy causes, while also helping others attain their aspirations.

This year marks a milestone in the history of Natural Awakenings’ loving, giving and serving America’s natural health and sustainable living communities. Our 90 publishers around the country (plus Puerto Rico), thousands of advertisers and current monthly readership of nearly 4 million are celebrating the magazine’s 20 years in publication .

As I reflect upon all of you in the Dallas-Ft. Worth Metroplex, I am deeply grateful for every business owner, manager, organization leader and practitioner with whom I have forged a relationship and who believes in the greater mission of Natural Awakenings. I am excited about how our local green, healthy and sustainable living community is growing and thriving. I am thrilled that you have chosen to join with us each month as together we explore new horizons of health and wellness and environmental integrity.

Although nationwide, America spends more dollars on fighting disease than anything else, our health status is one of the worst among developed nations.  One of the many ways that Natural Awakenings seeks to overturn this crisis is with our annual Health & Wellness issue. In Kathleen Barnes’ feature article, “Build Your Own Wellness Dream Team: Take your Health to the Next Level,” leading experts acknowledge that an integrative approach to healthcare incorporating the best of both Eastern and Western medicine is a good way to achieve optimum wellness. We also hear from local wellness experts Dr. Carlos Chapa, Kim Wilson Pollock, Dr. Karen Asbury and  Baylor Integrative Medicine program head, Dr. Carolyn Matthews.

A heartfelt “Thank you” goes to our advertisers and business distribution locations for your ongoing enthusiastic support; we are grateful to you all. Please support these local businesses when you shop for needed products or services. They make this free community magazine possible.

Until next month,

Bernice Butler, Publisher

P.S.  You can access our mobile-optimized website by this scanning the QR code.