I've been thinking a lot about healing lately—what it really means and what it asks of us.

Healing isn't just fixing what is wrong. It's physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. We heal from grief and loss, illness and injury, heartbreak, major life changes, and seasons that have taken more out of us than we realized.

Healing can mean rebuilding our strength—not only physically, but through remembering all that we love about this life and still have to look forward to.

For me, so much of that comes from the people I love—the family who has walked beside me, the person I've built a life with, and now, watching my daughter grow. I think about all the things I can't wait to show her—the places that have been special to me, new places we'll discover together, and getting to see some of life's magic again through her eyes. The people we love have a way of reminding us just how much life there still is to live.

Healing also asks us to listen—to recognize when we need to slow down, rest or let someone else carry a little of the load. I've always been much better at doing than resting. Between work, home, family and a very busy almost-two-year-old, there is always something to be done. I'm learning that doing everything ourselves isn't always the same thing as being strong.

Healing Happens in Connection by Aleksandra Mihailovic on page 19 reminds us that we aren't designed to heal alone. Sometimes there is courage in letting others in and accepting the love and support of family and friends who show up, check in or simply share a moment with us.

Healing can also shift our perspective on what deserves our energy. I've found myself clearing out closets and drawers, getting rid of things I no longer need. I've realized I'm doing a little of the same within myself—being more mindful of what I carry and where I choose to give my energy.

Having experienced cancer myself, Life After Cancer: The Healing Journey by Marlaina Donato on page 20 felt especially meaningful. It explores listening to our bodies, navigating emotional changes, caring for ourselves in new ways and finding new meaning. Sometimes what we go through changes us—not by taking us back to who we were, but by giving us a different perspective on the life ahead.

Healing may look different for each of us, but perhaps part of the journey is letting go of what no longer serves us and holding tighter to what does.

As you read this month's issue, I invite you to think about healing in your own life. What might you need to listen to more closely? What could you let go of? Where could you accept a little more help—or give more of your energy to the people, places and moments you treasure?

Wherever you are on your journey, I hope these pages inspire you to honor what you need and hold close what matters most.

With love and gratitude,

Alina