|
|
Here we are, the chaos of the holidays finally behind us, surrounded now by the deepest part of the winter and all the contemplative time it brings. It's the perfect time to celebrate the turning of the year, clean the slate, and search for ways to be more mindful. Our feature story, about Finding Mindfulness, will help you learn the tips and tools for patience, stress reduction and family harmony. Winter is also a time to brave the cold outdoors in order to revive ourselves and stay connected with nature. Our Winter Wildlife Adventures will inspire you to bundle up and get out there! And after all the gluttony of December, what better time to refocus, as women, on ourselves? Our Women's Wellness article and tips list offers great resources for new moms and anyone who desires to get fit in the New Year! We wish you all a bountiful and healthy 2013!
Read the entire issue online, or scroll down for links and cool online-only content. |
Publisher's Note
Protecting our children
“Each difficult moment has the potential to open my eyes and open my heart.”
― Myla Kabat-Zinn
Everyday Blessings: The Inner Work of Mindful Parenting
On December 16, 2012, our President spoke to the community of Newtown, Conn. Our country failed to protect its young, and our leaders can no longer sit by idly because “the politics are too hard.” Our commander-in-chief moved our grief-stricken nation by balancing sorrow and heartache with a new determination for change.
“I’ll use whatever power this office holds … in an effort aimed at preventing more tragedies like this,” Obama said.
As I listened to these words, my 2013 New Year’s resolution hit me like lightening. I won’t announce an intention to exercise more or consume fewer croissants.
I will use whatever power I have as a mother, citizen and publisher to protect our children by fighting for anti-gun legislation.
When I hit the keyboard in grief and disbelief, dozens of headlines popped up such as, “Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) vows to revive Federal assault weapons ban in 2013.” Unbelievably, days before this tragedy “Gun sales break all records” referenced the 154,000 guns purchased in one famous shopping day, Black Friday.
Has our country finally hit a tipping point, fatigued by senseless gun-related atrocities?
I Googled a “no guns sign” image to replace the photo of yours truly, thinking I would come up with the one above.
“No guns, no Jews, no Blacks” (arguing that denying a gun lover a gun is the same as denying blacks or Jews their rights) was in the top search return. Stunned, my mind thrust backward to our country’s great history of change as a result of democracy and legislation.
“This is our first task — caring for our children. It’s our first job. If we don’t get that right, we don’t get anything right. That’s how, as a society, we will be judged,” said Obama.
In 1916, the first legislation passed protecting our children against child labor abuses. In 1981, Morton Grove, Ill. gained nationwide prominence passing a ban on handgun possession and the sale of handguns. I remember my brother fighting hard in support of this legislation.
In 1994, Arkansas finally enacted child labor law legislation, and we had our first Federal assault weapons ban that expired in 2004.
As we know, all politics is local. No matter where we reside, we must now ask ourselves what we can do to change this cycle of gun violence.
Here in Washington, we incubate the greatest businesses on our planet. Our institutions churn out groundbreaking research on how infants learn and develop. We were the state chosen to launch Canada’s Roots of Empathy curriculum that reduces school bullying.
How can we come together now and what must we do to prevent more deaths and gun violence?
I vow to fight for laws that better protect our children and hope that you will join me. We can start here: action.momsrising.org/letter/newton_shooting1
With wishes for universal peace in our hearts and minds.
—Alayne
Join internationally renowned Mindfulness experts Jon and Myla Kabat-Zinn, for their Jan. 24 talk Mindful Parenting: Nurturing Our Children, Growing Ourselves. For information, go to ParentMap Lectures.