I n with the new, out with the old—time to forge ahead and be bold. Let’s make America greater, cleaner and healthier. It seems to be the time for change, and no matter your age, your past or your current health, it’s never too late to discover and adopt new ways to take charge of the one thing you can control: your own well-being.

This year’s annual directory brings together local resources for, and little more insight into, what’s trending in healthy and inspired living. Practitioners and service providers delight in this once-a-year opportunity to share what they have to offer.

And to complement our directory, we’re proud to give you a chance to meet and speak with many of these practitioners—and it’s just around the corner. The Emerald Coast Holistic Health Expo, sponsored by Natural Awakenings, will be held the weekend of March 11 and 12 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center. This will be the most robust and comprehensive natural health and inspired living event ever offered in Northwest Florida.

Linda Sechrist, senior staff writer for Natural Awakenings’ national editorial team, will be at the expo both days, discussing trends in natural health care and talking to local practitioners about their contributions to its growing influence on American medicine and wellness. Read about Linda on page 20.

The expo gives us all a chance not only to push ourselves to a better place, but also to help others get better too, as it was selected for the national launch of the new PUSH Challenge benefiting our nation’s veterans. The PUSH Challenge is a family-friendly fitness event whose proceeds go to the Boot Campaign, a nonprofit that provides individualized, state-of-the-art holistic care for active and former military. This is a powerful opportunity to be of service to those who’ve served. Get the details on page 18.

As we celebrate love in the month of February, we also focus on the emotional side of wellness. On page 23 we review Living with Trust: Guidance for Your Life’s Journey, the new book by local author Alice McCall, who explains how the path to true peace and health begins in your heart. "Heart-To-Heart with a Horse," page 46, give us a beautiful glance into the instinctive connection between humans and animals that leads to deep emotional healing.

A crucial part of creating the life you desire is actively cultivating positive thoughts and beliefs. Natural Awakenings has partnered with MindPT, a new, cutting-edge technology that blends psychology with neuroscience. This fun and engaging platform helps users build and reinforce positive mental messaging, which helps transform thoughts, beliefs and ultimately lives. We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to experience the benefits of MindPT by giving you a free video session entitled "Natural Awakenings," which helps reinforce the message to "feel good, live simply, laugh more." For details, see the MindPT ad on page 49.

It is a most rewarding feeling to be part of the growth our local healthy living community, and a most grateful feeling to enjoy such tremendous support from our local providers. But for us, there has been no greater feeling over the years than witnessing and learning about individuals and families who have been touched and uplifted by the strength and tenacity of those in this industry.

 

Let’s continue to forge ahead in unity!