Skip to main content

Natural Awakenings Dallas -Fort Worth Metroplex Edition

 972.992.8815

March 2013 Publisher Letter

Food—a favorite subject—headlines this month’s issue. I particularly like Dictionary.com’s definition: any nourishing substance that is eaten, drunk, or otherwise taken into the body to sustain life, provide energy, promote growth, etc. This looks beyond what we eat or drink and opens windows of thought regarding our manual for life, the Bible.

Matthew 4:4 advises that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Thus, what we feed our mind, how we think and feel, the words we use, what we read and listen to and most of all, what we believe, affects every aspect of our life energy, growth and experience. Just as the quality of the bread we eat counts, what we feed our consciousness each day makes a difference in our well-being. It’s vital that all inputs are of high quality, whole, natural, organic and free of toxic substances. Both kinds of nourishment require sustained practice; together, they work to bring about our best self to be able to care for our self, others and our Earthly home.

In Lisa Marshall’s “The Better Brain Diet,” she indicates some of the specific foods required for brain to operate at maximum efficiency. In recent years, I have personally discovered how tweaking my diet has enabled improved memory, clarity and focus. I have also confirmed that it is equally important to learn how to quiet the mind; for me, the best way has proved to be through daily Bible study.

In Robert Rabbin’s essay, “The Healing Power of Silence,” we are reminded that the gift of silence helps purify being. As we ingest both good food and “food for thought,” we start to be more mindful about everything, including the way we treat ourselves and others and how we care for our planet and everything on it. We shift from being, “It’s about me,” to “It’s all about we,” which has infinite manifestations, including everything from practicing recycling to building up enjoyably sustainable communities for the greater good.

Urban Gardening Takes Root,” by the husband-and-wife team of John Ivanko and Lisa Kivirist, is particularly relevant for DFW Metroplex residents. More and more rooftops, vacant lots and public green places are becoming viable growing plots for city dwellers. I love to see the creative uses of such spots, which come about when people get serious about eating healthy and really want their greens. Which approach to gardening in small spaces works best for your family?

Our own Metroplex arguably serves as a Texas “breadbasket” in that we are surrounded by an abundance of working farms, dairies and cattle ranches. Anyone that chooses not to grow their own whole, natural and organic foods has easy access to them in every North Texas community; locate those nearest you in this issue’s annual Farmers’ Markets Guide.

It is our publishing team’s fondest desire that after reading this issue, you will feel encouraged and moved to actively make more healthy choices concerning all that goes into your mind, body and environment… thus truly experiencing that green living is healthy and healthy living is green.

Blessed be,

Bernice Butler, Publisher