Dear Friends,
Summertime has always meant being outdoors for me. It’s one of the reasons I moved to Fairhope back in 2003—aside from the fact that my husband already lived here. I was thrilled to move to a neighborhood very near Mobile Bay and live in this beautiful city of flowers and lights. I’m so grateful to call it home.
From as far back as I can remember, I was a child of the outdoors. My parents had a cabin on Moon Lake in Mississippi, not far from our home in Memphis. That’s where I learned to fish, clean the fish, cook what we caught, swim and water ski. We had two boats—one for skiing and one for cruising—and endless adventures on the water. At night, we stayed out long after dark playing the usual kid games like hide-and-seek and kick the can under the stars.
Later, my sister and I spent countless hours swimming and playing tennis at our neighborhood pool, Graceland Recreation Club. That love of activity led us both to compete on the club’s swim and tennis teams. I eventually went on to coach the swim team there and was blessed to become a Letterman in swimming for LSU. Years later, I found a new passion in triathlon and eventually became an Ironman finisher and a triathlete coach. I’ve always felt happiest and most alive when I’m moving through nature and soaking in God’s creation.
The water, especially, holds a sacred place in my heart—lakes, rivers, oceans—I love them all. A few years ago, I swam in three major oceans within one week: the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic, and the Pacific! Whether we’re relaxing by the water or hiking in the mountains, my husband and I find renewal in the middle of God’s beautiful canvas, be it landscapes, seascapes or skyscapes.
In this issue of Natural Awakenings, we celebrate The Great Outdoors—from Edible Landscapes, to The Microadventure Mindset, to the Power of Outdoor Play (which I’ve experienced all my life). I hope you find something in these pages that speaks to you and sparks your own love for nature.
Wishing you a joyful, adventurous summer!
Michelle Smith Publisher, Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast
