EDITOR'S PAGE

"One person CAN make a difference"

Again, a wonderful theme rang clear and loud initially inspired by the awe and profound impression Dr. Jane Goodall made through her powerful and inspirational book REASON FOR HOPE.  Many prayers and much faith was exercised to realize our desire to feature Dr. Goodall in this first issue of our second year of publication.   The Universe granted our wishes, our hard work paid off, and we are extremely pleased with the humanitarian and philanthropic theme which emerged during the creation of this special issue! 

As a personal fan of Jane Goodall it was an amazing blessing to meet Jane and work with her staff to enable us to feature her excerpts and the Jane Goodall Institute.  Then, when it rains it pours and for us we were showered with the stories and nominations for featured writers submitted by YOU!   Like creating art, the shape of this issue revealed itself with each chisel and unknowingly the featured authors would share one common theme: "one person can make a difference".

Each story inspires in a slightly different way but, the culmination of wisdom provides a complete and rich picture of how to live, love and share.    Like a good curry assembled by many necessary spices, the stories in this issue complement each other and should all be read in its entirety.  That has not necessarily been the intent of the publication of past issues, but this issue's blend of stories truly rounds out beautiful illustrations of spiritual fitness. 

Read this issue in its entirety and learn:

• Parents, love your children and support their desires.   Help them realize their pure dreams.
• Adults, what did you love as a child?  Is there something you still need to do for yourself that your soul and the child inside still yearns for?   Do it!  Don't starve your soul.  Trust.  Have faith.  Be inspired.
• Are animals just animals, devoid of love and respect?   Think again.  Look into your pets' eyes.  Care about the treatment of animals.
• Is it possible to find peace in the midst of pain, suffering, sickness, AIDS?  Learn about compassion for your brothers and sisters.   Live as if you are about to die.  We are all going to die.  Knowing that, how would you live THIS day?
• Are these thoughts making your head spin and heart weep?   Take a "walk in the woods".  Commune with the trees, deer, lizards, whales or even that pigeon perched on your high-rise balcony.   Ground yourself in the spirituality of nature.  Find your center.
• Give yourself a Sabbath.  Be good to your soul.
• And, laugh.  Please don't forget to laugh and smile.   Even if you feel it's the last thing you want to do, do it any way!!  Care for your own soul.  No one else can care for you better than you!

This is definitely an issue to make you go "Hmmm...".  Some challenging issues.  Some of them many of you may not want to face.  But, hopefully, you will leave inspired and know that you too can make a difference.  Please have faith, believe and don't lose hope. 

I want to thank those of you that have submitted stories.   We read them and if your stories speak to us and fit the theme of our webzine they will be published.  Several of you have re-submitted stories and applied edits per our requests and we thank you.  Do not be discouraged.  We trust the Universe to guide us and we ask you to trust that process also.  We want your stories.  We love hearing from you and knowing you are inspired by the gift of this webzine.  Your gratitude and readership is our reward.  We take to heart that one person can make a difference.  We want to encourage others to become spiritually fit.  Spread the word to others.  Help us share the good news about humanity and that there are many of us that care about making a difference in this world.  Do you know someone feeling apathetic?  Send them to our webzine!  Collectively, each of us, in our small and special ways, are making a huge impact on this world and in each other! 

I want to respond to a few requests to reveal the identity of the Chief Editor of this webzine.  As the traffic has increased to our site (thank you!), this request has suprised me as I choose to be anonymous and do not desire any credit for bringing you this webzine.  For those of you that have submitted stories, my identity has been revealed since I respond with my name but, in general, I will remain anonymous because I don't feel as if I am truly the publisher or editor of this webzine.   I truly feel like a vessel which allows the Spirit to direct my every keystroke and decision made for each issue.  I also feel that I probably benefit the most from this webzine because of what I learn and what is published.  Each issue is simply the result from me being an empty vessel.  I am not being humble or shy or modest.   This webzine is truly a gift and I give the credit to God, Goddess, the Universe, the Holy Spirit...to that one spiritual being, with many names, whom I believe blesses all of us through nature, music and each other.   

I will tell you that I am probably like many of you who strive to be spiritually fit and engage in exercise programs in the great outdoors and/or performing or listening to beautiful music.  That is why I created this site in the first place, because I believed there were other people like me who are interested in stories about spiritual fitness!  I am applying these final edits to this Editor's Page the morning of Jan. 1, 2001.   You may not know my name but, I will share WHO I am with one of my own stories:

Down-covered in my flannel sheets, I stretch and squeal with delight awakened to the sun squeezing through the slats of my blinds.  The curtain rises and prisms are strewn on walls and ceiling from the crystal globe hanging in my window, framing my favorite snow-covered rugged mountains set against a sunny, crisp, clear blue sky.  I breathe in this day and exhale the past.  This is going to be a good year.  This is going to be a good day. We'll be heading up to those mountains to play soon then communing with friends over traditional black-eyed pea soup but, first my ritualistic nature urges me to bring in this New Year with reverence, peace and joy.  I open windows to let the cool fresh air breeze through the house and assume the tree position facing "my" mountains.  First, standing tall with prayer hands.  Breathing deep, exhaling slowly.  My eyes are focused on the trees in the foreground of those mountains.  They share the same roots as my spine.   I stand tall.  My spine goes through the floor connecting to the earth and the roots of all trees.  Left leg erect.  Right leg bends to meet the left thigh.   Prayer hands raise tall.  Tree position. Breathe in.  Breathe out.   I am one with the Universe.  I am only one person but, I can make a difference in this world.  This is going to be a good year. Namaste.

We enjoy hearing from you and reading your stories.   Use our submission form and keep us all inspired by your stories!  Email us with your comments or send us suggestions.  Tell us about authors or their stories that you'd like published in future issues of the site! 

Let us know you stopped by and tell us what does and doesn't work for you!  Thank you for visiting our site!

SpirituallyFit.com Staff

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