Another summer has come and gone. Is it just me, or do they go by more quickly the older we get? My grand plans for a bountiful garden will have to wait until next year – only the tomatoes took off. I am thankful we belong to a CSA program that keeps fresh, local produce on our plates and in our bellies. A few trips to a lake in New England, the river/bay in the Northern Neck and the ocean at Virginia Beach affirmed my love of the water—it truly lifts my spirit and replenishes my soul. Along the way, I fell in love with stand up paddle boarding and hope to do more of it this fall on the James River.

Speaking of fall, I always enjoy the beginning of a new school year—so full of excitement and anticipation. My family and I are now busy with school and fall sport schedules. My older son, Davis, will be a high school sophomore, and my younger son, Sy, is beginning the eighth grade. After this year, I will be out of the middle school years altogether and that seems strange. I feel fortunate that both of my boys have received an excellent public school education thus far, and I am excited to see it continue. We are lucky that the Richmond area offers a wonderful and inspiring array of educational options for a wide spectrum of learners. Learn more about what’s available in our local feature, Transformative Education.

Another highlight of this issue, and a personal love of mine, is yoga. We celebrate September's National Yoga Month with a pair of articles about a nearby yoga treasure, Satchidananda Ashram-Yogaville, in Buckingham. I had a chance to visit early last spring and it was well worth the trip! Yoga inspires me to slow down, become more present and express gratitude for the goodness that always exists, if only we pay attention.

I leave you on your merry autumn way with this Apache blessing:

May the sun bring you new energy by day,

May the moon softly restore you by night,

May the rain wash away your worries,

May the breeze blow new strength into your being,

May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.

And may you always be inspired to feel good, live simply and laugh more.

Happy Reading,

Jessica Coffey, Publisher