"...think of peace and prosperity for our souls when making decisions..."

In the midst of final publication of this issue I was repeatedly haunted by technical nightmares tempting me to toss all my computers onto the downtown sidewalk below and swear off further contact with keyboards and mice. Upon glancing at the faxed copy of Aron Ralston's biography on my desk, perspective and a deep breath calmed my frayed nerves. It's difficult to complain after reading Aron's survival story where he saved his life by cutting his own arm off to escape days of being trapped by a boulder in a Utah canyon. Aron KNOWS what it means to have a bad day. 

I was thrilled to receive the opportunity to feature Aron Ralston's Between a Rock and a Hard Place because of the sheer inspiration of his story and the wisdom he imparts to those who read it. As a lover of the outdoors and an adventurer, I could easily relate to Aron's quest to find solace in solo sojourns in the wilderness. His unfortunate circumstance brought him extremely close to death, but his survival introduced a new appreciation of life and the beginning of a deeper spiritual journey. 

Aron is the epitome of turning lemons into lemonade, not just through his survival story but also through his continued pursuit of a passionate life. Despite the loss of his arm, his fervor and undying love for the outdoors exemplifies the victory of the human spirit over a near-death experience. Rather than living out of fear, Aron invites us to join him in living passionately, wisely, positively and fully. If you are having a "woe is me" day or a "pity party," just think of Aron and be grateful for your life!

*********** 

This issue is rich with thought-provoking material about our heated political climate, metaphysical and physical instructions for healing, and suggestions for making your home a haven for body, mind and spirit. For the first time we are featuring Nora Pouillon, advocate of organic cooking and owner of the first certified organic restaurant in the country. We are excited to bring you her article about cooking with seasonal ingredients and sharing her recipes which made my mouth water when I first read the names of the dishes! 

I was pleased to receive submissions on the topic of politics and spirituality as my thoughts and emotions have been occupied by campaign frenzy with Election Day just around the corner. As stewards of this planet, I believe a healthy cognizance of politics serves an important spiritual purpose, especially in the realms of the environment and war. Our compassion for our planet, our children, our rights, and our physical health can directly be expressed through our votes and involvement at all levels of government. I am saddened at how divided our country is on the Iraq war and on so many other issues. I am further saddened by those who choose not to vote because of apathy or because they don't believe they will make a difference. How can we as a nation insist on imposing our ways of democracy on others when we are not successfully practicing it ourselves? 

I have been candid about my anti-war sentiments in previous issues, and it should be no surprise to you that I voted for John Kerry. Like many others, I will be impatiently waiting with butterflies in my stomach for the final outcome on November 2nd. No matter who wins this election, the task at hand to tackle terrorism, health care, education, jobs and more will be daunting, and our leaders will need our prayers and support. I hope and pray our leaders think of peace and prosperity for our souls when making decisions for our country. I am thankful I am an American because of the freedoms I have, including those which allow me to freely express my views in this webzine. Goddess, Jehovah, Allah, Buddha, Spirit, God, Universe, Mother Earth, and all higher beings watching over us...please bless America and the world. 

*********** 

We wish you a wonderful fall, winter and holiday seasons. Keep warm, love large, be well, and stay spiritually fit! 

 

*********** 

Namaste.Amelia Andaleon
Chief Editor, SpirituallyFit.com

*********** 

We enjoy hearing from you and reading your stories. If you have submitted, we will notify you if your story has been selected. We have received many stories which may be used in future issues, so don't lose heart if yours has not yet been published. Use our submission form, follow the writer's guidelines and keep us all inspired by your stories! Email us with your comments or send us suggestions. 

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