Dear Friends,
November is here—which means it’s officially fall on the Gulf Coast. Our community really comes alive this time of year. Between the Fairhope Outdoor Farmers Market, the 2025 Greater Gulf State Fair, Mobile Bay Makers Market, Orange Beach Holiday Market and the Gulfport Fall Festival, there is no shortage of things to do and friendly faces to see.
If your joy comes through food, you might even hop over to New Orleans where Suis Generis and the Tiki Food Labs are serving up exotic culinary experiences like Flavor Science & Probiotic Foods and the Fishing Rodeo & Pig Roast. And for film lovers, the Fairhope Film Festival returns November 13–16. Craving something nourishing and plant-based? Chickpeas Mediterranean Grill in Mobile has you covered. There truly is something for everyone this season.
Wherever I go, I love being a voice for natural health and holistic wellness. So many people are hungry for alternatives for healing that doesn’t just mask symptoms, but restores peace, function and joy. I can personally testify that some of my most powerful “treatments” have been as simple as sitting by Mobile Bay, listening to the waves and wind in the trees until a headache disappears. Yes, I still keep Advil in the cabinet—but nature wins every time.
Speaking of creating space for healing, my husband and I have been designing our own little backyard retreat—a pool with a hot tub, natural stone hardscape, lush landscaping and all. It’s almost complete, and I can already see how it will become our sanctuary—a place to restore, connect and breathe again.
Our feature story this month is a beautiful reminder that we are not machines. We are nature—made to live in rhythm with it. When we align with seasonal shifts instead of resisting them, we give our bodies a chance to reset and recover from the constant push and grind. My intention in this new backyard haven is to honor that rhythm all year long: to slow down, move my body, breathe fresh air, and let nature do what it does best—restore balance.
Just a few finishing touches left, and I will officially be ready to “dive in,” body and soul. Stay tuned—next month I hope to be writing from a place of deep exhale and celebration, right in my own backyard.
With gratitude,
Michelle
Publisher, Natural Awakenings Gulf Coast
