Jordan Peschek, RN-BSN, Publisher

February is often associated with hearts—on cards, in shop windows and in familiar gestures of affection. Yet beneath the symbolism lies something far more meaningful. Our hearts are living, responsive organs shaped every day by how we eat, move, rest, connect and care for ourselves and one another.

Behind sobering statistics about cardiovascular disease is a quieter and more hopeful truth: small, consistent choices matter. The way we nourish our bodies, manage stress, sleep at night, move through our days and relate to others all leave an imprint on heart health over time. This month invites us not toward perfection or fear, but toward awareness and compassion.

Our February feature story, “A Whole-Hearted Life: The Daily Choices That Help Our Hearts Thrive,” by Hannah Tytus, explores heart health as an integrated experience—one that extends beyond cholesterol numbers and blood pressure readings. Through research and expert insight, the article reminds us that cardiovascular well-being is shaped as much by optimism, connection and purpose as it is by food and fitness. The heart, it turns out, responds not only to what we do, but how we live.

Throughout this issue, you will find practical and accessible ways to support heart health from multiple angles. From nutrition and movement to mindfulness, sleep and time in nature, these pages emphasize that care does not need to be extreme to be effective. A short walk outside, a few mindful breaths, a shared meal, a good night’s rest or reaching out to someone you love can all be acts of cardiovascular care.

At Natural Awakenings, we believe health is not built in isolation. It is cultivated through community, education and daily choices that honor the whole person—body, mind and spirit—within a living ecosystem. As you explore this issue, we hope you feel encouraged rather than overwhelmed, inspired rather than instructed.

May this month be an invitation to listen a little more closely to your heart, tend to it with patience and kindness and remember that caring for yourself is not separate from caring for the world around you.

In health and gratitude,

Jordan Peschek, RN-BSN, Publisher