As we awaken to our personal journey within, this is truly a time of rejuvenation. We celebrate our annual Women’s Health issue with the energy of birth and renewal that springtime brings. Individuals that radiate beauty with a light shining inside usually find it in a deep place of joy and appreciation of life.

From childhood, we are taught to look outside ourselves for the answers we seek. I am so grateful to my mother for encouraging me to trust my own instincts and allowing me to make my own mistakes. I think it is the greatest gift I have been able to pass on to my own children. I love you Mom, for everything you are and everything you’re not!

Women’s health is a vitally important, ever-changing topic, and trying to maintain a balanced life with the myriad demands of family and work is an art. Our May issue arrives with spring in the air and “Her Soul in Bloom: Self-Care for All Stages of Life,” a blissful feature on the importance of me-time. We all need to rebalance our energies now and then.

Both women and men will be encouraged by Randy Kambic’s interview, “Peter Sagal on Running Toward Mindfulness.” The popular National Public Radio host talks about healing a wounded psyche by unplugging and embracing the natural world—and you don’t have to run a marathon to do it.

Speaking of the natural world, what better time of year to get the little ones out of the house? In “Gardening for Kids: The Fun of Growing Their Own,” Ronica A. O’Hara shows us how this helps grow healthy, veggie-loving kids, as well.

Fruits and vegetables are also the focus of our Conscious Eating department in “Vision Quest: Eat a Rainbow of Color for Healthy Eyes.” Two specific nutrients have been shown to reduce the risk and slow the progression of cataracts and macular degeneration—the two most common age- and diet-related causes of vision loss.

We all know how smart it is to eat a plant-based diet, but did you know how smart plants are? People have been talking to plants for years, but did you know they talk to each other? Our piece “Plants Talk: Discover Their Secret Language” is a fascinating look at how they communicate to defend themselves and assist their neighbors in the most extraordinary ways.

Nurturing ourselves and the people around us is a natural expression of our love. We’re pretty sure you can think of many women that have made an impact on your life and inspired you in some way to become a better person. Whether it was your mom, your best friend or your aunt, they were important because they cared.

 

Happy Mother’s Day… be well and shine!