When our country’s founders made their stand on July 4, 241 years ago, they set the standard for bravery and determination for decades to come. When they declared themselves independent of an empire and free to pursue happiness, they and their successors flourished beyond the world’s wildest imaginings.

We are grateful for the hundreds of practitioners and providers of natural living, holistic health and inspired living services and products in our area. After more than 10 years of being with Natural Awakenings, we have had the great opportunity to get to know most of them—and we’ve come to consider them our teachers.

In with the new, out with the old—time to forge ahead and be bold. Let’s make America greater, cleaner and healthier. It seems to be the time for change, and no matter your age, your past or your current health, it’s never too late to discover and adopt new ways to take charge of the one thing you can control: your own well-being.

As we were preparing our letter to Santa, we were reminded of the Grinch—you know, the guy who tried to steal Christmas, and who hated the spirit of the holiday because either his shoes were too tight or his heart was too small.