Editor’s Note: Change Is in the Air

Despite the lack of colorful leaves falling all around the way I’m used to seeing this time of year in the Midwest, even in the heat of Florida, change is in the air. Traffic patterns have changed now that school is back in session. We’re all adjusting to getting back into our fall routines and beginning to plan for the holidays. We’re entering the last quarter of the year, which invites reflection and change for the upcoming year. And in our household, we just sent our oldest daughter off to college across the country – I have never experienced change on this level, even compared with moving here from Indiana three years ago. It’s exciting, but terrifying; hopeful, but painful; so much pride in my heart, yet so much heartbreak; exhilarating and exhausting all at once. I’m reminded of the quote attributed to Walt Disney, “If nothing ever changed there would be no butterflies.” I have this quote on my refrigerator to remind me that the struggles and fears associated with change can also result in the most beautiful growth.

I know so many of you, if not all of you, are experiencing similar changes – at work, at home, in your social groups, all over the place. It can be a lot to take in. And I hope that the content we’ve provided for you this month will help you to feel validated and know you’re not alone, in addition to giving you some tools for not only coping but enduring well all the changes coming at you. If you’re a recovering perfectionist like I am, be sure to check out our piece by Odette Vaccaro called, “Finding Now: From the Recovering Perfectionist.” If you need some reminders about how to take care of yourself and are looking for ways to increase peace and happiness in your life, be sure to read Samia Solh’s “Rising Above: Rid Yourself of the Three Poisons, “ Sharon Fuentes’ “Mama’s Turn: Everyone Needs A Mental Health Day,” and Vanessa Poulson’s “Tough Things to Talk About: Learning to Say No.”

We have several great columns to help you get the most out of your time at work and foster healthy office cultures: Business Culture, Creator Mindset, Get In-Powered, Get Traction, and Work Well. Each one of these pieces will help you handle the day-to-day changes you face in the workplace. Need some inspiration? Check out this month’s featured artist, learn about how to be “Made for Mondays,” read about young kids in our community who have gained recognition from the Library of Congress or have earned national titles, learn about a local resident who was just inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame in New York, or escape through reading our travel column or short story series. Need to make connections? Get involved with Nona Cycle, check out community events in our monthly calendar, or read “The Importance of Meaningful Connections” by Norm Dubois.

October is also National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual health campaign with the purpose of increasing awareness for prevention, diagnosis and treatment while also raising funding for research and cures. While we always offer plenty of medical information and awareness in our Health & Wellness section, this month we also have a featured article entitled, “The Uninvited Metastatic Breast Cancer Beast” written by Teri D’Amelio. Teri shares a very intimate perspective of her family’s experience during the nearly five years of her sister’s diagnosis and journey. It’s a touching and personal story that makes you wish you’d been a close friend of Kristin’s before she passed in April. Teri pushed through the pain of sharing this story so that she could bring awareness about the lack of funding and research devoted to Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer. Grab a box of tissue, curl up in your favorite chair, and be inspired to live your best life.