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Natural Awakenings Dallas -Fort Worth Metroplex Edition

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September 2012 Publisher Letter

There’s no question that September leads all months as my favorite time of the year, with the possible exception of the winter holidays. We leave the 100-plus-degree days and hot nights when North Texans hibernate , and enjoy the beautiful, enriching freedoms granted by milder weather.

One telltale sign that our best outdoor season has arrived is that many festivals are filling up the community calendars around town. Natural Awakenings will be attending no fewer than six inspiring community events during the months of September and October, including the granddaddy of them all, the State Fair of Texas.

We love the fun of both traditional and nontraditional celebratory events and look forward to expanding and enlightening our perspective on life at the same time. Fall brings fresh adventures with a new academic year for our youth; a new Bible study year for me; and new opportunities for us all to launch projects based on our latest insights and ideas. Something in the air just stimulates a new lease on life.

During this time, I often reconnect to old school-day sentiments, excited about registering, preparing for and attending workshops, programs and classes. I am filled with optimism and keen anticipation of the endless possibilities.

How wondrous that day-by-day, God gives each of us original manna, the ideas we need to help bring something wonderful into existence. It may be as simple as cooking a homemade meal, fashioning an outfit or expressing ourself in a letter to a friend. Whenever I hear people state that they are just not creative, I think, “Sure you are. You just don’t see it yet.”

Children innately understand the buzz of ongoing creativity, but as adults, we often neglect to acknowledge the infinite ways we creatively stretch ourselves, beginning with the ways we manage everyday life. Exercising our God-given imagination and inventiveness throughout life is vital to our health and well-being. In this month’s feature article, “Exploring Our Creative Side,” Judith Fertig explores just some of the myriad options we have for realizing the ongoing joys of our own creativity in this community.

This issue also brings insight into the newest approach to holistic health. In “Functional Medicine: Taking a Whole Toolbox Approach,” health writer Kathleen Barnes shares experts’ perspective on the importance of determining the root causes of disease, instead of just treating symptoms.

I’m also excited about the growing popularity of electric cars in North Texas; local writer Julie Thibodeaux talked with Neale Ferris, of the North Texas Electric Car Association, about the benefits. He also cites his top pick among the electric vehicles meeting family needs for cost-efficient and sustainable transportation.

We hope you enjoy this latest community-oriented issue as we continue our mission to educate and inform North Texans about the issues, products and services here to help you pursue your healthy and green living goals. People and the planet can live sustainably together, because healthy living is green and green living is healthy.

Blessings always,

Bernice Butler

Bernice Butler, Publisher