Dear Friends,
Welcome to the June Men’s
Health issue of Natural Awakenings Gulf
Coast.
So much is packed into
this summertime issue, I hope you can sit somewhere cool and peruse the pages.
If you are a woman, please pass along these Men’s Health nuggets to your
favorite men! We have Conscious Fatherhood, Metabolic Health, Socially Conscious
Investing, Lifelong Vitality and Gulf Coast Men in Wellness.
Speaking of men, I am
blessed to have three wonderful fathers
in my life who amaze me with their love and kindness. My dad Jack, in
Tennessee, my son Zach, in Texas and my husband Will who has two sons, his and
mine, both from previous marriages. These remarkable men in my life will always
have my heart.
I want to share a moment
in time that set my young life on an unforeseen path. It was horrific at the
time but worked out for good. I was about five years old and my sister was one.
In a terrible car accident, our car flipped and slid upside down along the
highway. My mother plucked my sister right out of the air to keep her safe. I
remember sliding face down on the ceiling of the car, which caused an abrasion
on my nose, but we all survived, including the dogs.
Daddy is the rock of our
family. Without pause, he grabbed our hands, had us bow our heads and we
prayed. We thanked God that He saved us. I believe that was a defining moment
that set the tone for my family’s lifelong faith. He rarely missed a swim meet,
tennis match or any other childhood event that took place. My life as a youth
was rich, and not much has changed. I am still, as he says, Michelle “my
belle.” Fast forward 25 years and he became a role model for my son Zach whose
dad was pretty much absent throughout his childhood. He taught Zach all those ‘boy’
things like fishing, hunting, baseball and basically how to be a dad. Nowadays,
Daddy is still living in Tennessee, still being a rock for my mother. I love
you Daddy.
Daughter-in-law, Brianne, and my son Zach with their beautiful children.
Zach, now married with
children of his own and a special wife, Brianne, who loves and takes care of
him, you will find him on the cover of this June issue. I could not resist
showcasing his handsome face and my sweet granddaughter on this Father’s Day,
Men’s Health edition of Natural Awakenings, because to me he is THE picture of
health and wellness in mind, body and spirit!
My husband Will, has
always been an involved, caring and loving father. He consistently shows his
unconditional love for his children and his wife. But that is a story for
another time.
For additional ‘men on a
mission’, please visit our 2023 Gulf Coast Men in Wellness both in print and
online during June. I hope you will find a helpful resource and a wealth of
information.
May God bless you and keep you,
Michelle Smith, Publisher
