This year has been a slog for everyone. Thanksgiving was 2020 weird; Christmas is going to be 2020 weird too. If you’re like us, you’ve already run the gamut of holiday emotions—the range of which are roughly represented by the two photos at the top of page 10. The good news is that brighter times are on the horizon, so let’s make it our goal to have more left-photo days and fewer right-photo days. At Natural Awakenings, we’re doing what we can to get you there.

For an instant uplift, turn to page 25 and our feature article “A New Story for the World: Re-Visioning the Script for a Healthier Society and Planet.” There you’ll find not just one story, but several stories—true tales of people making positive change here on earth right now, in fields like economics, medicine and science. They’re doing it by changing the popular narrative about what success really looks like, which is less about “What’s in it for me?” and more about the collective good. 

If there’s been a good side to 2020, it’s that we’ve been forced to reach the same conclusion ourselves, albeit at the micro level. Parents of young children, especially, have had tough conversations about why they can’t hang out with friends or hug Grandma this year. But we’ve seen from previous eras, when Americans have gone through much harder times and sacrificed far more, that a time of crisis can be character building, forging a generation that’s both strong and selfless. So it seems not just appropriate, but also wise, to finish this year with a reimagined Christmas—or as this month’s Healthy Kids column puts it on page 32, “more meaning, less stuff.” Writer Ronica O’Hara talked to several experts who all agree that the joy children get from material presents is temporary, while time spent together as a family is a gift that keeps on giving. She offers several creative ways to make this holiday season extra special for kids, from holding a treasure hunt to turning one room into a winter wonderland. Children love repetition, so the reimagined holiday you celebrate this year might just turn into the family tradition. 

Speaking of which, we’re already thinking about how we’ll carry forward this “good side” of 2020. (As much as we love the holidays, this year has given us extra incentive to hang up that 2021 calendar.) Fittingly, we’ve taken inspiration from this month’s Inspiration column, “Fresh Rituals for a New Year” (page 41). Our favorite suggestion? Spend each of the first 12 days of January practicing an activity to manifest the change you hope to see in the world.

Finally, we want to tell you about someone who made our family’s tough 2020 a little easier. Dr. Phil Blumer, a longtime veterinarian who makes house calls as part of his Fort Walton Beach practice, came to our home to end the suffering of our beloved dogs—littermates who spent long, happy years together, and who, thanks to Dr. Blumer, peacefully passed away together, comforted by the familiarity of home and each other. We’ve shared his story, and ours, on page 42.

Wishing you health, happy holidays, and good cheer for our brighter future.

Scott & Daralyn