Stop for a minute and think about what your life looked like a year ago. At the end of 2019, Josh and I enjoyed a kid-free night with my brother and brother-in-law in Galveston while my parents kept our kids in Houston. We stayed in a hotel, went out to eat, enjoyed a karaoke bar and wandered the Strand feeling carefree and full of life. After a quiet New Year’s Eve celebration at my parents’ house, we returned to Fairhope for a wonderful start to 2020. In early February, I acknowledged the positive energy in the air by writing “grateful for flow” in my journal. Life seemed effortless as everything seemed to be falling into place both at home and with work.

A month later, that sense of ease disappeared as everything changed in mid-March. On several occasions I’ve considered compiling a list of all the things that made 2020 a year like no other, but I resisted the temptation. While some of the year’s happenings conjure a giggle (remember the Saharan dust cloud named Godzilla?), so many others are tied to immense loss and unrest.

Despite the tumultuous times of the last 10 months, I can honestly say that positive memories are what flood my mind most. I have visions of Mays and Thatch playing together more than ever before, me cooking elaborate meals when there was nowhere else to be, Josh and the boys playing music as the lights went out during Hurricane Sally. I think about how I am in closer touch with many out-of-state friends as we’ve all embraced social connections via virtual outlets and how the usual sense of peace and escape seemed amplified during this year’s family camping trips.

Sure I can remember feeling my head physically hurting from decision fatigue as I performed a risk analysis on everything from schooling options and magazine distribution to flour rationing and generator use. But that stress-filled reality is buried in the unseen background of all of 2020’s photos—photos that resonate joy and a sense of adventure.

In this issue, you’ll find holistic care as a common theme throughout the articles. To thrive, we must care for our whole being. Allow the kick-off of 2021 to recharge you physically, mentally and spiritually and face the year with positivity to foster optimal health. Although turning a page on the calendar will not magically remedy all of the unresolved challenges of last year, it can certainly bring us a much needed sense of renewal. The mindset that we choose now and how we make the most of what’s to come will determine what we’re looking back on a year from now. I can’t wait to see what lies ahead!

Cheers to 2021!

Meredith Montgomery, Publisher