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Natural Awakenings Northwest Florida

Letter From The Publisher

Aug 01, 2022 02:54PM ● By Scott Chase

We are fortunate to live in an area where thousands of folks visit to explore our beaches and beautiful emerald-green waters, but let’s not forget that one of the most enticing reasons they come is for our vast amount of fresh seafood and fish. From my New Orleans heritage to my Southern upbringing, there has never been a season where we didn't indulge in the unique dishes our gulf provides.

Living in Florida most of my life, I learned at an early age how to dive and spearfish lobsters, wade out to the oyster bars and gather conches while being pulled behind a boat.
Yet over the years, many have seen a dramatic decline in available sea creatures. Learning about how we can create sustainable measures to keep underwater life plentiful is now more important than ever, and not just for consumption reasons. Several marine experts share their knowledge on both the benefits of eating shellfish, and its vital importance to saltwater ecosystems in this month’s article, “Sustainable Shellfish”, page 30.

Now that we are past the peak of summer and as the frenzy of tourists and traffic starts to simmer down, families can begin to turn toward their own needs as they start preparing for their kids to go back to school.The August issue of Natural Awakenings has a strong focus on building practices that empower us and our family.

For anyone who wants to teach their children about healthy coping or emotional- regulation skills, we encourage you to read “Raising a Well-Rounded Child,” which starts on page 26. Writer Marlaina Donato details a broader, whole-systems approach to raising children by providing them with a “tool-box” of mindfulness techniques.

If you are ready to take back your power and pursue your innermost dreams, don’t skip “Change Your Words, Change Your Life,” page 24, where New York Times best- selling author and celebrity life coach, Christy Whitman, explains how shifting the language you use to talk about yourself can change your reality.

After several weeks of scorching temperatures, we (and our plants) can celebrate much-needed nourishment from over eight inches of local rainfall. As the weather shifts, be sure to check out “Take a Silent Hike: Tips for Walking Mindfully in Nature,” page 40, which discusses the ways spending time in natural silence can help us men- tally turn down the noise.

Here at the magazine's headquarters, we are ramping up for the sixth annual Em- erald Coast Holistic Health Expo, coming up soon on September 10 and 11, at the Destin/Ft. Walton Convention Center. As Northwest Florida's largest holistic health event, guests will discover the latest trends and advances in whole-body health, self- care, and healing for the entire family, pets included. Visit with like-minded people in Northwest Florida’s health and wellness community and enjoy one-on-one conversa- tions with our area's most amazing experts in the industry. For more information and the Expo Directory of exhibitors, visit ECHHExpo.com and sign up for your Fast-pass to avoid the registration lines.

See you at the Expo!

Daralyn & Scott

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