Editorial
Volume 31 Issue 3 — Fall 2025
by Melva Armstrong

It feels like time for a change, and that’s what is happening with this autumn issue. I’ve decided that WHOLifE will be published four times per year, a quarterly, instead of six times. It will go with the four seasons, and each issue will include three months. I’m looking forward to this new schedule, and I trust it will work well for all our beautiful advertisers, subscribers, and readers. Those who wish to be included may need to get their dates and events organized a little earlier than before. I’m sure we can always find ways to make everything come together nicely.

The summer is nearly over, and I trust you created some exciting ways to enjoy the lovely prairie weather. I know lots of people were off on holidays, mainly because they were hard to get ahold of. They must have turned off their phones and just soaked up lots of Mother Nature, and time with family and friends. These are very important activities to do for your mental, physical, and emotional health. It’s good to just “be.” That’s when a person can go within oneself and let go of all the noise and distractions from the world around us. It feels to me like a lot more people, around the world, are taking some quiet time to reflect, and connect with their inner selves. As more people are having some personal quiet time each day, I feel that hugely contributes healing and nurturing energy throughout the world. And eventually those energies will help to bring about more peace on our Mother Earth.

It feels to me like the earth energies are shifting more towards bringing people together, and finding ways to get along with our neighbours, our families, and our friends. I think one way to have more joy in one’s life it to not listen to the news, unless it is joyful, uplifting, peaceful, and loving. After listening to the mainstream news, one can feel hopeless and helpless. No thanks! We need more joy and laughter and fun in our lives. Only listen to things that are uplifting.

Once again, I have thoroughly enjoyed putting this issue together with the wonderful folks who grace the WHOLifE pages with articles and advertising, and the amazing designer, Cheryl McDougall. She does such a terrific layout of the pages, as well as some of the advertising. If you are a regular reader, I’m sure you will agree with me about the beauty and charm of her artwork. It has been more than 15 years we have worked together. Thanks Cheryl, for being so amazing!

There is another lineup of unique articles for you to check out. There are gifts and treasures to discover as you get settled into a nice comfortable chair and look through the Table of Contents to begin your journey through this new autumn issue. I would love to hear from you, and what you enjoyed most about it.

To start with, a huge thank you to Judith Graile for her year of writing food articles. She taught us a lot about the importance of food as medicine. And now we celebrate the happy return of Stacey Tress with the Mindful Eating column. She was so excited when we connected about her return that she quickly said her first passion was to write about Garlic: Our Saskatchewan Favourite (p. 8). It is full of information about growing garlic, its nutritional components, and how to use it in making delicious recipes. It’s everything you need to know about garlic.

Pam Fichtner’s Top Women’s Health Issues in 2025 article (p.10), very thoroughly covers the importance of looking after oneself by checking out the various organizations available in the province that deal with women’s issues. It’s an excellent article to keep around because she lists so many helpful associations that one can contact to get help for all sorts of health problems. I believe it’s important for women to help women find ways to live their best lives. Pam has worked in the health and healing business for many years, and she carries within herself a wealth of knowledge, research, and experience about women’s health.

We have Dr. Louise Gagné’s research included again, which is titled, Common Nutrient Deficiencies and Guidelines for Healthy Eating (p.12). She says, "If we aren’t eating a balanced healthy diet, we will certainly have some deficiencies." Louise covers a range of problems that exist in our society due to our diets, and she has provided some excellent guidelines for healthy eating.

I trust you will continue to read through all the pages, and find those blessings and gifts that all our writers and advertisers have provided to help you live your best life.

Namaste
(The spirit in me honours the spirit in you)