The state of your life is nothing more than a reflection of your state of mind. – Louise Hay

 

The New Year is upon us. Goodbye 2020 – and good riddance. Hello 2021.

 

Each new year typically brings aspirations for change in the form of New Year’s resolutions, which are a way to create motivation for achieving certain goals. As David Goggins, retired Navy Seal and author of the best-seller, Can’t Hurt Me – Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds, contends, motivation is fleeting, it comes and goes, and is not a reliable method to drive lasting change. The key is to change and master our mindset; callous the mind as we would callous our hands and hold our self accountable to the standards we set.

 

Of course, the process to effectively callous the mind is not an easy road, and it takes a high degree of personal integrity to hold ourselves accountable. Yet the payoff is huge, because once the proper mindset is in place, motivation is no longer part of the equation. Things get done because our actions become a reflection of our state of mind. Insert a favorite Goggins quote: “Roger that.”

 

I often hear from readers for different reasons. They often include praise for the content we provide and they share their love of reading the magazine each month. Some offer their stories of how they improved their health or wellness. One reader, Ginny, has been persistent in her request for more information about a specific topic. Yes Virginia, there is an article in this issue about osteoporosis. Thank you for your persistence.

 

Many readers are interested in that topic, so Dr. Ashlyn Zikmund, from Natural Paths To Wellness, obliged and offers a local feature on page 21 discussing the prevention and management of osteoporosis. Other local contributors include Fred Swartley, owner of Abundant Life Natural Health, in a health brief (page 13) about the most effective approach to lasting weight loss. Plus, in one of our online exclusives (page 31), nutritionist Sarah Glunz from Natural Paths To Wellness helps reframe the weight loss journey so you are more predisposed for success, rather than failure. Remembering our furry friends, Holistic Veterinarian, Dr. Linda Stern, discusses integrative approaches for treating our pets on page 28.

 

As I’m writing this, we just survived a Nor’easter during a pandemic. Who would expect anything less to wrap up 2020? In typical fashion, our community didn’t blink and continues to persevere, holding forth the vision for a safe, healthy and prosperous 2021, where we rally together to support each other while feeling good, living simply and laughing more. Blessings to us all!