Welcome to a new year and a new decade that offer both opportunities and challenges in our pursuit of healthy living. Our vision for 2020 is to reach out and connect with even more of our dear readers and community influencers. Our plans call for expanding our reach, and we are over the moon excited to announce this spring you will be able to pick up Natural Awakenings in the Greater Lansing area.

We begin this year in our Wise Words department with legendary journalist Bill Moyers, who is leading the charge for a new generation to make a critical difference in our world where it counts: climate change. Natural Awakenings has accepted his challenge to join a global media project called Covering Climate Now to spread awareness of the urgency of this issue. Throughout this year, we’ll be sharing with our readers the many aspects of how what we eat and how we live impact the planet—and how each of us can shrink our own climate change footprint.

Meanwhile, schools across the country and around the world are growing the next generation of environmentalists with innovative hands-on courses that teach students about climate change, the importance of renewable energy, sustainable food production, water quality/quantity and other conservation issues. Explore this trend in “Raising Environmentalists: Teachers Prep Kids for the Future.”

Our focus on planetary health will complement our ongoing commitment to leave no stone unturned in all facets of personal health. This month, the eternal quest for the fountain of youth leads us to examine the factors that contribute not only to living long, but living well. We look at the role of genes, environment and lifestyle factors, offering age-defying strategies from diet, exercise and sleep to protecting our telomeres and adjusting our attitudes.

Physical fitness is especially top of mind in the new year, and readers that have previously struggled to shed post-holiday pounds may be surprised and pleased to discover that moderation may be the key to burning fat. “When Workouts Don’t Work: Why Less Is Sometimes More,” explains how stress-free exercise can deliver better results by optimizing the response of cortisol, a steroid hormone that plays a critical role in regulating metabolism.

The foundation for vibrant health is a healthy immune system, and Julie Peterson focuses on the nutritional factors that go into building one in “Gut Check: Feeding the Immune System.”

As this new energy and fresh season approaches, think of the one thing you need most to replenish yourself and integrate that loving act towards yourself each day. Take a good look within, ask yourself some important questions and see what happens. There’s plenty more for readers to love about in our January issue.

Our warmest wishes for a happy and healthy new year!

Trina & John