Can you imagine experiencing the world as a great sandbox given for us to play in like we did as children? As we play, we can open ourselves up to the exploration of our edges, always creating new adventures of self-exploration as we let go of old, outdated beliefs about ourselves.”
~ Judith-Annette Milburn

Last month while I was traveling, I walked a labyrinth that was built upon the red sand and rock of the New Mexico high desert. Slowly, mindfully, I walked the path of the labyrinth, matching each footfall to an inhale or an exhale as I observed the eastern sunrise slowly uncover the shadowed mountains to the west with a soft orange glow. What a beautiful morning.

The labyrinth is a symbol of life. It is a physical reminder that our life path toward our future self, or greater purpose, is not linear. The labyrinth is laid out in what looks to be a circular maze, yet as one walks the winding path guided in one direction and then another, one continually is drawn closer to the center.

In life, we often feel like we are taking three steps forward, then two steps back. Though we actually are making progress, we often can’t see it. Mistakes and stumbles are all part of the process. Each step backward also carries us forward. Experience is our greatest teacher.

We must have trust in the process, trust in ourselves, and trust in something greater than ourselves. Similarly, the labyrinth involves many twists and turns, yet one trusts that each step carries him or her further toward the center.

Our hearts also guide us. The heart is our center. The heart is an icon that carries with it multiple meanings, both physical and symbolic. It is now well known that our physical and mental health are connected; that our mind, body and spirit are greatly interwoven. The heart is at the center of it all.

As we embrace “heart-centered living” in the February issue, we are focused on the heart from all angles: mind, body, spirit. We explore topics that speak to eating well and moving our physical bodies, child and adult alike, in order to promote a physically healthy heart.

We share how practices such as mindfulness, yoga, sound healing, energy healing, deep breathing and more can calm our nervous systems and ease the stress on our hearts. We also speak to the heart from the angle of our inner beings, from our spiritual center, and from a perspective focused on love and relationships.

And lastly, we remind ourselves that our greater purpose stems from love; from bettering our community at home to the planet at large. Love is at the root of unifying humanity and growing together toward lasting change, and a healthy heart is the foundation of our physical, mental, spiritual and energetic beings. Let’s spread some love today.

Jordan Peschek, RN-BSN, Publisher