Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/456952
I t's crazy when you get all excited about being/doing some- thing you'd never heard of a couple of years ago. "Respon- sive." We are creating a responsive website, which means that when you read WLT on your mobile device (which half of you do), you won't have to scroll endlessly across the page! Such a simple thing but oh, what a difference. We're also changing our URL—we're finally home at www.wholelifetimes.com—and have simplified our design. So please come visit us at our new Web address, and sign up to get our free digital edition six times a year. Sometimes recognizing that things have changed can be challeng- ing. About 10 years ago I commited to an exercise routine I do nearly ev- ery day. Now unless I'm doing some- thing more interesting (hah!), at least once a day I speed walk for 20 or 30 minutes around my neighborhood. It's free, doesn't require a partner or fancy equipment, and I can sandwich it be- tween other activities. I've met lots of lovely neighbors, too. But one neighbor a few years back had a particularly terrifying dog, and when he heard me yell at his dog, he became insulting to me. Since then I've avoided his house, even though the offending dog is long gone (and no, I didn't poison it, though I was tempted). This week I learned that the insulting neighbor, a dad in his 40s or 50s, died a couple of years ago, and I realized that some- one who is long beyond caring is still influencing my daily walk. How ridiculous is that? I think a lot of us make some version of that mistake. We let old wounds, admittedly often more serious than this trivial one of mine, affect us in ways large and small, even when the wounder is out of our lives in one way or another. What will it take to make us let go and truly live in the present? Should we forgive enough to forget? Life is not black and white, and there are always tricky ques- tions to navigate. The theme of this issue is Love & Sex, two elements that, together or individually, play a leading role in our every relationship, whether with a lover, friend, family mem- ber or even ourselves. And there is nothing black and white about any relationship. The underlying theme I see running through this issue is that there are always areas of disharmo- ny—with friends (pg. 14), with lovers (pg. 22) and even within ourselves (pg. 24)—and unless we're willing to see them with clear eyes and actually do something about them, we're getting in the way of our own happiness and joy. I must be a slow learner. Years ago I was profoundly moved by Shakti Gawain's Creative Visualization (pg. 26), which launched me into a series of books on creating my own reality, from Ram Dass' Be Here Now to Cath- erine Ponder's The Dynamic Laws of Prosperity and Joseph Murphy's The Power of Your Subconscious Mind, and on through a myriad of titles I'm certain many of you also have read. And here I am, decades later, still making mistakes, but now at least able to laugh at myself. Ah, I've done that again. As challenging as relationships with other people may be, it's possible the one with ourselves may be the most difficult. So here's my summary thought on love (the sex part I'll let you figure out for yourself): Do the best you can, keep learning and growing, and cut yourself some slack. From my heart, Sign up now to get Whole Life Times free in your email. Never miss another issue! www.wholelifetimes.com Stay connected with us on and from the editor Dear Readers, photo: Caitlyn Andrews A non-surgical treatment which promotes the body's own natural healing ability to stabilize and strengthen weak ligaments, tendons and joints. G. Megan Shields, M.D. and J. Keller Wortham, M.D., are experts in the delivery of this breakthrough pain relief procedure. To learn more go to www.doctorprolotherapy.com Optimum Wellness Medical Group, Inc. 1030 S. Glendale Ave., Suite 503, Glendale | 818-547-5400 Let me help you: • Discover true balance & joy • Open your heart to love • Clear karmic patterns & past trauma • Live an abundant life Jamile Mafi Certifi ed Energy Practitioner 818-317-3873 Discover true balance & joy Open your heart to love Clear karmic patterns Live an abundant life Certifi ed Energy Practitioner Experience Rapid Transformation with Shamanic Energy Medicine. www.flamingheart.com 6 wholelifetimes.com