Sometimes a vacation gives you exactly what you need. My recent weekend escape to the North Georgia mountains was the perfect recharge: crisp air, winding trails, and quiet moments to reset my system. The beauty of those mountain views reminded me how stepping away from routine can refresh not only the body, but the mind as well.

In this month’s feature story, Activating Neuroplasticity: The Brain’s Ultimate Rewind Button [page 14], neuroscientist Dr. Kat Toups shares, “Nutrition is the foundation of everything in health. You can’t build anything in the body without good food.” But neuroplasticity is about much more—it’s the brain’s ability to reshape itself in response to challenge, rest, and learning, no matter our age. Just as time in the mountains offered new perspective, the science of neuroplasticity reminds us that our brains are never fixed—they’re alive, evolving, and ready to adapt.

Rewiring the Stress Response [page 26] highlights gentle therapies like sound healing and craniosacral work that coax the nervous system out of fight-or-flight. Whether it’s a weekend retreat, a few deep breaths, or a guided sound bath, these practices remind us the body and brain are designed to reset—sometimes they just need a little nudge.

Hiking in the mountains also demanded a good dose of leg strength and balance, and I was reminded to keep those muscles in shape. Strong at Any Age: Embracing Resistance Training During Menopause [online at my-NA.com] emphasizes how strength training not only preserves muscle and bone health but also supports balance and mobility well into later years. Whether it’s lifting weights, climbing a hill, or just carrying groceries with more intention, building strength helps us stay ready for whatever adventures—or staircases—life puts in front of us.

This month’s issue is full of fresh ideas to keep both brains and bodies thriving. If you’re hungry for sharper thinking, Feeding Our Brain Power: What To Eat for Mental Acuity [page 18] serves up delicious strategies to nourish cognitive health. With Halloween around the corner, Sustainable Halloween Costumes [page 13] offers clever, eco-friendly ways to dress up without the waste. And for families with little ones, Toddler-Friendly Mindfulness Activities: Simple and Interactive Games To Nurture a Developing Mind [page 24] brings playful tools to help kids (and parents) find calm in the chaos.

Here’s to rewiring, resetting, and recharging body, brain, and spirit.

Kris Urquhart, Publisher