“There's always a moment that separates the past from the future, and that moment is now.”

― Aniekee Tochukwu

“I am choosing to flow with the current of life rather than lying in a tide pool experiencing the same things again and again.”

― Marilyn Barnicke Belleghem

I couldn’t decide which of the two quotes above to use this month, since both are very meaningful to me. The first one speaks to the fact that change is always possible; within that “moment of now” exists all possibility. It’s always within our power to move from the past to the future — in fact, it’s inevitable. In every moment, we decide how to think, how to act, and how to experience our world. And those moments of “now” are always here. Realizing this removes all excuses and any possibility of being “stuck.”

Once you claim the power to change, then you are open to choosing. What do you want the future to hold? Do you want more of the past, or do you want to experience the current of life? Or a little of both? The tide pool is comfortable but can become stagnant. Experiences, even if pleasurable, can become mind-numbing if you let them wash over you again and again and again. 

These concepts are important to me now because of an impending move and downsizing, and also because I wish I had understood them at a younger age. While aware of our power as very young children, many of us lose that sense of empowerment as we mature and need to reclaim it as adults.

Our August issue is traditionally about children’s health. We cover much of that this month, but move the focus slightly to Empowering Youth and Creativity. Let’s help our children retain and grow their innate sense of power of creativity. “Growing up Empowered,” on page 24, offers a positive parenting approach to help our young people maintain a high level of confidence and self-expression. We also cover the importance of play for both children and parents on page 34.

For a perspective on creativity for adults, we interviewed author and filmmaker Barnet Bain. Read “How Creativity Can Save the World,” on page 31, to get his take on why creativity is so vital and how we can develop it.

Please use the rest of the glorious summer to play, create, and flow with the current of life!

With love,

Ana