Last month our Natural Awakenings family lost our beloved president to cancer. Larry Levine joined us 12 years ago and brought with him a solidifying presence that inspired us all. Larry knew how to make everyone feel special. He honored everybody he met with a smile, a hug, and a loving welcome. He had a way of making you recognize that no matter what was happening, all is as it should be and unfolding in perfect order and perfect time. My sister, Laurie, and I often found ourselves saying, “What would Larry do?” when thinking about a decision. We are so very grateful for his presence in our lives. His impact lives on and we will always treasure our time with him.

“We can always bless what’s good in our lives, but blessings can become even more meaningful if we remember to bless the bad times as well, when we most need to remember the truth that good is present then and there, too,” says Dennis Jones in our Inspiration column. We found this to be true during hurricane Matthew. My beachside family evacuated to my home in east Orlando for a couple of days. And while there was the stress of the impending storm, we enjoyed each other’s company and kept the food flowing from our “hurricane café” that operated continuously from my kitchen. It allowed us to enjoy time together as a family. It was especially heartwarming to have my dad with us during this time. He has been a fabulous father to all of us so it is nice to have an opportunity to care for him in return.

This month is our annual Natural Living Directory issue. We bring you a handy reference to keep year-round. It is jam packed with resources to assist you in your journey of healthy and sustainable living. In addition, we introduce our Stress-free Holiday guide. Over the next few months you will find tips and resources to help you keep your immune system humming and stress to a minimum as you navigate the holiday and New Year activities. In this month of thanksgiving, I want to express my gratitude for you, the reader, for joining us on this mission for a naturally healthy community. We are grateful for the advertisers who make this project possible and the businesses that help make the magazine available to the public. Thank you for being a part of the Natural Awakenings’ family.

In gratitude and love,

Kris Urquhart, Publisher