"The unfolding power, breadth, and depth of expertise and energy in Fairfield County are immense. Every contribution, large or small, helps us all to grow, evolve, transform and heal. Thank you for your participation in the amazing Natural Awakenings’ community.”

Those words appeared in my first publisher’s letter, in the July 2013 issue of Natural Awakenings. This month marks an anniversary for me; what a terrific five years it has been and how quickly that time has passed! I had little sense when I wrote those sentences how true my words were, how much power was in our area waiting to be untapped and shared. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to experience the truth of my words and feel the community’s overwhelmingly positive response to the changes we’ve made to the magazine over the years. We’re proud of the leadership position we have in the community and we wear the mantle with a sense of responsibility. True leadership is not about ego or power but rather about co-creation and collaboration for the higher common good. For it is together we succeed or fail, ultimately, as human beings sharing a collective conscious experience. 

Never has it been more important for people to engage, question and reach up and out as we have done and will continue to do. To that end, Natural Awakenings never stops pushing our areas of inquiry and actively keeps the magazine as accessible as possible. New and exciting partnerships are in the works which will expand Natural Awakenings’ reach and presence even further. One of these collaborations is ready to be unveiled; I’m excited to announce that this year Natural Awakenings will be the Passport to Life sponsor for the 7th Annual Stamford Health, Health Wellness & Sports Expo 2018, the largest health and wellness event held in the state. Check out page 10 for more information on this partnership, which will come to fruition in October of this year during the two-day event at Chelsea Piers in Stamford. If you haven’t been to the expo yet, mark your calendar because it is something not to be missed. 

“As I write the first of many letters to my new community, I am humbled and inspired by the power of this publication and honored its stewardship has come to me.” Five years later, I feel the same way. I look forward to continuing to serve, connect, and empower the residents of Fairfield and Litchfield Counties as you strive for the best life experience you can have. Thank you for the things you have already done to make this community resource stronger, whether it has been support through advertising, an article contribution, agreeing to be a distributor or being one of our active and engaged readers (we love to meet and hear from you!). Thank you for the things you are going to do in coming days to make your life and your community better, more compassionate and more authentic. I appreciate each one of you and acknowledge the tremendous
human beings you are. 

With love and light,

Nicole