Welcome to May—the month that delightfully brings to mind our appreciation for mothers and, as my Sierra Club friends remind me, for Mother Earth. What a blessing that God has so perfectly created the world that both are divinely designed to provide His children with the nurturing sustenance that’s required for us to survive and thrive.

As a mother of an adult daughter, I have reveled in my share of joyous moments as nurturer-in­chief and most recently as the mother of a local elected official. I have relished my role as the one who kissed the boo-boos, cheered on the sidelines and pressed the pretend-brake during those first driving lessons. I am equally privileged and blessed to be among those that still have a beloved mother present to voice her wisdom (and unsolicited opinions), give generous hugs and provide the heart-warming, unequivocal support children bask in. Life is made of such rich relationships.

It’s not surprising that May is Women’s Wellness month at Natural Awakenings and I must say that I love being a woman! For sure, there can downsides if we’re not naturally careful, like high heels, body-shaping lingerie, cellulite, stretch marks and PMS. Yet all-in-all, it’s a pretty good gig. We are treasured mothers, daughters, lovers, sisters, aunts, nieces and best friends, plus so much more. It’s impossible to imagine what our world would be like without the special women in our lives. There are a thousand reasons why it is vital we take care of ourselves and our larger sisterhood. Thus, I love to issue the following challenge to awesome women everywhere.

Commit to giving up something that is not in your best interest. It might be soda, cigarettes, trans-fats, toxic people or a love affair with the TV remote. Have you shunned daily exercise in favor of couch potato ways so long that you are growing sprouts? If you’re not sure where to start, just ask yourself the question: What am I doing that is not in my best interest? At least one answer will come to mind.

I’m also encouraged by April Thompson’s “Clutter-Taming Tips,” which is enough to inspire us all to dig into clearing out drawers, closets, attics and basements. The Dallas Metroplex has many organizations that accept donations and will even make pickups. After taking the “Organizing Self-Test”, developed by Dallas’ Living Well Health & Wellness Center Co­founder Jenny Bair, on page 21, I am now implementing the “one bag a day” technique. Each night I take a bag and hit one overflowing space to quickly bag for donation, set aside a few for consignment and toss the rest. I recommend keeping at it, one day at a time, until you are satisfied or run out of bags.

Deep appreciation also goes to our readers, advertisers, distributors and contributors for making this free magazine possible as together we celebrate our third anniversary issue. Thanks to you, our community’s go-to resource for green, healthy and sustainable living continues to grow. We always welcome your input and feedback; let us know what you want to read in these pages.

Blessings to all,

Bernice Butler, Publisher