October 2013
October is an exhilarating month for all of our senses. The colors, the tastes, the crisp air, the excitement … it really gets me reminiscing about my childhood experiences from this time of year: carving pumpkins and roasting the seeds; sipping on mom’s old-fashioned hot cocoa; trick-or-treating during the “golden age”; raking leaves into jumping piles; watching “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”; and sleeping — with the windows open just a bit — buried under the newly applied winter quilt.
It’s important to recognize that some of us don’t have such good memories to draw upon, however. For those of us still dealing with the effects of childhood trauma, October is the beginning of a three-month period notorious for being difficult to get through. It can also be a time when the unfortunate symptoms of undiagnosed depression issues pile on. I encourage any of you who are questioning the status of your mental health to take advantage of the increased resources available this National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month. Your mental and emotional well-being is worth the effort!
Our authors have some great articles to educate us about ways to take better care of ourselves and be more aware of our overall health. Karen Block reminds us about the importance of sleep, for young and old alike. John Pietenpol encourages us to incorporate functional training into our fitness routines. Andrew Pace informs us about some difficult decisions we may have to make when choosing products for our homes that are healthy for us and friendly to the environment. These are just a few examples of what we offer you this month. Please read on for more!
My best wishes to all of you on your journeys to optimal physical, spiritual and mental health.
In health and happiness,
Jackie
