Welcome to our New Beginnings issue! I’m sure many of you are anticipating new beginnings in 2014, whether you’ll be working hard at working out, resolving to give back to your community more, or reserving a time slot each day just for you. Here at Lifestyle, we’re seeing new beginnings take shape too: new faces, new stories, and plenty of new goals.
Taking that leap to start something new can be scary. Maybe that’s why I never really make a New Year’s resolution. I mean, why should I put so much pressure on myself just as the year is beginning? Last year, I started making healthy lifestyle changes mid-year after test results showed I had high cholesterol. I worked with my doctor to change my eating habits and to get motivated to exercise because I wanted to get healthy, not because it was January 1.
I succeeded the most at adopting a healthy diet; however, I did not succeed at staying motivated to exercise. I went to the gym a handful of times and I’ve done my fair share of crunches and jumping jacks in front of the TV. I stopped looking for the closest parking spot so I could walk more. But I never got the exercise routine down. If I could commit to be fit like David Cortes and Willow Houben (page ??) at some point this year, I would without a doubt reach my health goals. Maybe I’ll reinstate my gym membership or sign up for a yoga class or wake up an hour earlier and run around my neighborhood. That sounds like a new beginning in the making.
Now that the dust has settled from the holidays and 2014 is in full swing, I hope this issue will inspire you to make your own new beginning. It doesn’t have to be in January and it doesn’t have to be something huge. You can even let your new beginning find you like I did in 2013. Whatever it is, though, let’s keep each other motivated.
What We’re Working On
Military Men and Women
To show our thanks to the men and women of the armed forces, we want to write about them. If you know a military member who deserves to be honored, please send us their story.
Americana Recipes
Do you have the best ever apple pie recipe? Or is your fried chicken the best on the block? If you’re a local chef with an Americana recipe to brag about, we would love for you to share it with us.