It’s spring and the world feels alive again. I love keeping the windows open and going about my day to the soundtrack of birdsongs and frogs and the wind moving through the trees. Nothing is better! You can sense the excitement and newness of life as nature hurries about, doing its thing: growing, pollenating, mating, giving birth.

In fact a big plus of publishing this magazine is being able to do it from home in the workspace oasis I’ve created. My garden is right outside my office screen door, and I have my juicer—no coffee maker for me—a standing computer desk, a yoga mat, a rebounder and essential oils all handy throughout the day.

It’s clear to me that health and happiness are the real wealth; they’re what truly counts, especially as we get older. It doesn’t matter how much you’ve stashed away in an IRA if your physical and emotional well-being keep you from feeling good and enjoying life.

Good hydration is part of that. It’s critical for the normal biochemical functioning of our systems. To that end, I drink celery juice in the mornings and cucumber juice in the afternoons and sip water with lemon throughout the day. Besides the mineral and phytochemicals in these foods, they are excellent hydrators. Did you know that joint pain, stiffness and brain fog are symptoms of not drinking enough hydrating liquids? It turns out many of us are walking around dehydrated. Learn more in “Staying Hydrated: It’s Not Just About Drinking Water,” on page 44.

A new health trend that’s gaining momentum is intermittent fasting—which, by the way, is not about living on water for days. It’s about giving your body a break from being in a constant state of digestion. When we take a pause in eating, our bodies can go about the daily tasks of repair and renewal more efficiently. The most common type of intermittent fasting is the 16/8 method: fasting for 16 hours out of 24, and eating during the remaining eight-hour window. To find out more, read “Intermittent Fasting Basics” on page 26.

This month our focus is on women’s wellness and on mothers in particular. The pandemic has hit mothers hard in the stress department; they’ve had to multitask and adapt even more than they usually do. But there have been positives to these adjustments as well. Out of necessity, we’ve all had to prioritize what is most important to us, and as a consequence, less-meaningful activities and relationships have fallen away. Our feature article, “Resilient Mothering: How Moms Are Forging Ahead in a Changing World,” offers self-care tips for stressed-out moms. See page 30.

It’s hard to think about mothers right now without thinking about Ukrainian women. Ninety percent of the Ukrainian refugees crossing the border into Poland are women and children, which means this migration is primarily a crisis for women—particularly mothers. One of my best friends had to flee Ukraine last month. But women are strong, flexible and resilient, and with help they can persevere. My wish is that we will continue to do what we can to help Ukraine, a beautiful country that will need love, support and resources for years to come. 

On a far more personal note, Dana and I want to give a special shout-out to our moms, who continue to find moments of joy in their lives as they embrace their nineties. Joyce and Judy, we love you! 

Happy Mother’s Day!