I am so excited about this issue of CoSozo Living! This month marks our first year anniversary for CoSozo Living, and this past year has been tremendously rewarding, exciting, and ultimately so meaningful to be able to hear from so many of you that we have helped you in some way.
As many of you know, when we made the decision to move into this kind of media, it really was a decision that was made so that we could continue to reach more people. Health care and wellness is so much more than what is being discussed on a national level in terms of health care reform. It is about real people, making real decisions about their lives and their loved ones. Wellness is not a destination, it’s a journey. And we are honored to be a part of your journey toward a healthier, happy life. It is so meaningful for us to be able to highlight for you the incredibly rich, powerful resources and information that are available right within our very own state.
This is such a beautiful time of year, for many reasons. The temperatures begin to get cooler, the colors become more brilliant, and we get to enjoy the glory of Fall in every way before winter sets in. To me, in many ways, Fall feels like a resting place, a time of wonder and reflection between the brilliance and radiance of the summer months, and the nesting and contraction of the winter months. What a glorious time of year!
I’m so excited about this issue, not only because it marks our one year anniversary, but also because of the great articles we have from our columnists. Brian Klatt, from Michigan Natural Features Inventory (out of MSU) is our feature columnist this month. Through Brian I became aware of a great place in Lansing that I would not have likely discovered without him - the Baker Woodlot on MSU campus. If you have a chance to get over there, it really is worth checking out. It is stunning, magical, peaceful, and I was so grateful to be introduced! Thank you Brian, for your excellent tour guide skills, and for the great article!
You’ll be awed by the pictures in Brian’s article as they so clearly highlight the staggering beauty that is so prevalent in Michigan. I love Michigan for so many reasons, but one of the reasons I enjoy living and working here is simply the incredible beauty of our state.
Brian’s article is perfect for this time of year. Wellness isn’t just about making decisions that will make you more fit or improve your physical health. It’s also about achieving a better state of connection within yourself - to your own sense of self, to the people who are important in your life, and to the incredible planet on which we all live. One could say that there is a certain amount of reverence that is required for achieving a greater sense of wellness.
It’s easy for us to take our bodies for granted when they are in good condition. It’s also easy to take the people in our lives for granted. Without question, many of us take our planet, and all of the incredible, natural gifts it provides for us completely for granted. Brian’s article reminds us of this connection and allows us to refocus on our relationship with this wonderful world.
Another article that I am so pleased to have is Dr. Wycoff’s article about autism. Particularly for families who have autistic family members, one of the things that I think is most needed for this disease is a sense of hope. Dr. Wycoff’s article provides that. As anyone who has had a disease knows, most often, it’s so challenging to even understand what’s happening. Autism, in particular, comes with special challenges and Dr. Wycoff never fails to provide us with articles that are enlightening, informative, and ultimately provide a reason for those who are struggling to become hopeful.
Dr. Richard Van Enk from the Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo has also provided a great article on influenza. As we all know, the flu virus has been the national headlines for some time now due to the approaching flu season and the incidence of the H1N1 flu strain. Dr. Van Enk’s article provides you with great information that dispels some of the myths out there about influenza, as well as what you can to do remain healthy.
Lizzie Burt and Kathy Goldberg have provided us with an article that reminds us about eating in alignment with what is good for our environment. These two women work for MHealthy, which is the University of Michigan’s health and well-being program for faculty, staff, dependents, and retirees. I was honored to be able to meet with them to enjoy a delicious meal and delightful conversation. It is so clear that they love what they do and are filled not only with a passion for food, but also for teaching creative and fun ways to make better food choices to improve health.
It is exciting to me that our nation seems to be turning a corner in regards to our health and well-being. Just five short years ago organic foods were not typically found in mainstream grocery stores. Today, many stores feature organic sections.
Additionally, there is much more information available and embraced regarding preventive measures that can help us with our wellness goals. We are slowly shifting from being reactionary to our health challenges to becoming more proactive as a nation and as individuals.
We are so happy to be a part of that shift. I want to thank all of you who have helped us over this past year - from our advertisers, to our readers (both online and print), to our excellent columnists, our distribution sites, and our staff. It has been a tremendous and rewarding journey, and we have been honored to have you all be a part of it with us.
