Happy December, everyone! Did the year go by as quickly for you as it did for me? The upcoming holidays present us with special opportunities to exercise conscientious choices about what we buy, the food we prepare and consume, and most importantly the kindness, love and peace we offer to those around us. It’s easy to get caught up in the do-more, spend-more, and eat-more state of mind. By doing that, though, you may lose your true joy
in the season.

We also have a choice about how to deal with the demands put on us by friends, family and ourselves. This time of year can be stressful as we try to find the perfect gifts, host and attend parties, and travel to visit friends and family. Remember that most of the pressure comes from our own expectations and desire to please. Ease up, relax, and realize that perfection is not required. However you choose to celebrate, make sure your choices reflect your heartfelt values.

Hopefully, Natural Awakenings can help you with some of these choices. Our mission every month is to provide information, resources, and options to help you live your healthiest, most joyful life. In Meaningful Giving, we offer gift-giving tips to simplify the season. There’s no reason to break the bank when giving of yourself is often free and the most appreciated gift of all. Fun Party Foods are flavorful and festive, yet healthy and oh, so easy.

This month, in our Uplifting Humanity issue, we also bring you some special articles on peace and happiness. Do Good, Feel Good explores how acts of generosity and the feelings that prompt them may improve our mental and physical health. Feel Peace, Speak Peace, Teach Peace tells the story of a program that uses the power of the heart to bring peace into Costa Rican and American schools.

Whatever holiday your faith leads you to observe this month, stay happy and healthy, naturally. Thank you for welcoming Natural Awakenings into your homes. As always, we are grateful to our advertisers and distributors for their support, and ask that you support them in return.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season.