Publisher’s Note
I can’t believe August is here and summer is almost over! We have less than a month to kick back and relax before the kids return to school. Although we pondered long and hard about making this our back-to-school issue, we couldn’t bring ourselves to say goodbye just yet to our unstructured schedules, the joys of travel, our sense of adventure, or the new discoveries that align with the summer months.
I love this season – there’s so much going on, and the available activities are endless! I find it difficult to sit and do nothing; however, so many folks do just that. Did you know that research has linked sitting for long periods of time to a number of health concerns, including obesity and metabolic syndrome? It can also contribute to cardiovascular disease and cancer. I had no idea just sitting could be so hazardous to our health! Be sure to read Are We Sitting Ourselves to Death? on page 20 to find out if you’re cutting your life short due to a sedentary lifestyle.
The Fourth of July always delineates the beginning of the high season of summer, and this year is no exception! Flowers are in bloom and their
Organizing a family reunion can be stressful, especially when you’re trying to please everyone. However, planning a successful event can turn into an enjoyable and fun bonding experience when you take a team approach. There are schedules to coordinate, planning decisions to be made, and details to work out when it comes to pulling off a successful reunion, but the event doesn’t have to turn out perfect to make it the perfect opportunity to visit with relatives you haven’t seen for years or have perhaps never met. Keep in mind the real purpose of a family reunion is to bring everyone together to celebrate familial bonds. Check out We Are Family on page 40 before planning your next big family soiree.
Are you preparing for some last-minute travel time this month? Are you imagining vacationing on the beach, lake, or river with your family this time of year? Perhaps you’re driving to a national park or visiting relatives in a nearby state? Regardless of your plans, stay mindful of the importance of vehicle safety while you’re traveling, and be aware of heat-related dangers on the road. Be sure to read Road Trip Auto Check on page 41 before you hit the highway. If you have health-related back issues, also look into Back to Back Traveling Tips on page 13 to ensure your road trip is as pain-free and comfortable as possible.
There are a myriad of exciting places to discover in the world, so explore Travel the World; Fill Your Soul on page 10 for some tips on expanding your horizons.
Closer to home, on Tuesday, August 1, join over 38 million neighbors around the country participating in National Night Out. This annual event is a community-building campaign encouraging police and local residents to come together to make our neighborhoods safer and more compassionate places to live. For more information, see page 7 or check out your city’s local website.
If you’re a woman who wants to make a difference but you don’t know how, join 100+ Women Who Care on Monday, August 7. In just one hour, we’ll be exploring how our donations to a local nonprofit can change lives. Meet other caring women and see how we can make a significant difference in our communities by working together. See page 8 for more information, or just show up as a guest – we’d love to meet you!
Embrace the season, and celebrate the flexibility, family time, and fun of summer. Before you know it, we’ll all be smack-dab right back in the middle of our hectic schedules!
Be sure to strive to live life fully – and enjoy!
