Love does not dominate; it cultivates.

   —Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Cultivating a life you love—and loving the life you have—is a mindset. I like to start my day with an attitude of gratitude, which keeps me present, positive and optimistic. I began that practice years ago, reminded by a picture my son gave me with one of my favorite sayings: Do All With Love. For me, a loving life cultivates kindness, grace, compassion and gratitude, along with joy, excitement, creativity and curiosity. Holding space in my life for unconditional love has been healing; it has allowed me to create healthier boundaries and relationships. I’ve learned to pivot to what feels good for me, which allows others to do the same for themselves. Loving with an open heart has been transformational for me. I’ve never been happier. 

Spiritual leaders, philosophers and therapists will tell you that this sort of transformation must start with self-love. Tending to our own health, wellness and mindset allows us to show up for others “ready to be ready”: ready to give and receive in all our relationships, and especially our intimate partnerships. The mind-body connection is powerful; our thoughts fuel our actions, and our actions pave the way to our journey.

February is Heart Health Month, when we look at the heart-mind connection, understand sex as a sacred act that initiates healing for both partners, and recognize that love is a verb, a powerful action that not only inspires, but heals. Our feature article on page 22, “The Heart-Mind Connection: How Thoughts and Emotions Affect Our Heart Health,” is full of great heart-and-brain-healthy strategies. Something to keep in mind: Love and laughter are healing, while anger, anxiety and loneliness can be harmful to the heart. Our Healing Ways article, on page 28, “Truly Making Love: Sex and Intimacy As a Healing Force,” offers playful approaches to keeping the fire stoked and having fun with your partner—there’s even homework! And our Inspiration article, on page 32, “Living in the Frequency of Love,” is a quick read yet speaks to my very core. Hopefully it will inspire you too. 

Be sure to check out our monthly news briefs, starting on page 8). Hopefully you’ll be as thrilled as we were to find new practitioners moving into our region and new therapies being introduced, including fresh ways to boost our immunity. We’re happy to tell you about several upcoming local events, such as a women’s retreat happening in Ossining, a winter expo in Fishkill and a shamanic ceremony in Putnam Valley. We even have a nice discount on subscriptions to our Natural Awakenings Singles network—happy Valentine’s Day! 

And in case you haven’t heard, Marilee and I are seeking a new publisher (or a publishing team, like us) to carry on this beloved magazine. I love what I do and feel blessed to have been doing it for so many years. But now it’s time for us to pivot and embrace new pathways of joy. Adventures lie ahead for both Marilee and me. If you’re interested in stepping into a new journey, consider becoming your own boss: Be the publisher of this Natural Awakenings magazine. Our readers love us. They’ll love you too! 

With gratitude, 
Dana