Our family kitties, Kiwi age 19 and Callie age 17, recently passed within eight weeks of each other. The impact of losing our furry family members has been profound. They came into the household when my boys were in elementary school and were an integral part of raising them into adulthood. As I process the grief and adapt to my new normal, I have found that leaning on my support team of practitioners and their recommendations for self-care has been invaluable. I reached out for massage and energy healing, stayed attentive to nutrition and exercise, and used meditation and supplements to support sleep.

This issue marks our 22nd publishing anniversary. Through Natural Awakenings, I’ve been blessed to learn from some of the best in their chosen health and wellness field. My family relies on these practitioners to maintain our health. Our functional medical doctor is our foundation, and our team also consists of an osteopath, nutritionist, herbalist, massage therapist, and energy healer. Of course, finding trusted sources for our wellness products rounds out the optimum wellness approach.

We designed this special annual guide to provide you resources to build your own wellness dream team. We recommend you keep this issue year-round for reference. It includes an extensive directory and a wide array of wellness profiles. Our community is blessed with talented wellness professionals to help you with your personal health goals. Get to know some of them listed in the dream team roster starting on page 23. Be sure to bookmark this resource online at DreamTeam.my-NA.com for easy access. And enjoy a new book by a local author spotlighted in our Natural Library [page 33].

Our April theme explores how regenerative organic agriculture is key to preserving human health and the planet in A New Dawn on the Farm Front [page 42]. Discover strategies to optimize nutrition for kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Kid-Approved Autism Diets [page 46]. Learn helpful tips in Outdoor Safety for Pets [page 48]. Plus, enjoy recipes for sustainable eating to shrink your foodprint in Sustainable Eating. [page 50]

Throughout this issue, you will find a wealth of expertise and guidance by calling on our advertisers. We hope you enjoy this resource and that it enhances your wellness journey.

Here’s to a healthy mind, body, spirit and planet!

Kris Urquhart, Publisher