Friends,

I’ve always been the kind of person who thrives on gathering people together—the party planner, the one who remembers birthdays, includes everyone and ensures no one is alone on the holidays. But life happens. Marriage and children transformed my social calendar from adult soirées to Minnie Mouse-themed toddler parties. Friend circles shifted, adapting to the different stages of life and personal growth journeys.

As my kids transitioned into their tween years, I lifted my head from the sand (well, sort of) and noticed the drifting of some friendships. There’s a bittersweet twinge of grief for those connections lost, whether due to life’s inevitable changes or my own neglect. Sometimes, there’s even a pang of guilt or disappointment for friendships that didn’t meet my expectations. It’s hard not to take it personally. But with age (cough, cough, not old—LOL), I’ve learned it’s often not about me. Everyone has their own journey. That saying about relationships being for a reason, a season or a lifetime? It’s spot on.

Now, when I plan a gathering, my friend circle looks much smaller. Making new friends as an adult is no easy feat, which brings us to this issue’s theme: Finding Your Tribe.

Our feature story, “The Power of Community: Finding a Path to Meaningful Connection,” explores the importance of community despite our society’s focus on individualism. Loneliness can be as harmful as smoking or obesity, affecting both mental and physical health. Following that, we have “Gathering Around the Friendship Fire,” highlighting how communities of old thrived on shared stories and songs that provided spiritual sustenance.

For those new to meditation, we offer tips on slowing down an active mind. Curious about what “trauma informed” means? We’ve got an insightful article explaining this concept and how to recognize if a business is trauma informed.

Ever wondered why New Jersey kids go back to school later than those in the rest of the country? Or why we’re called the Garden State? All this and more are covered in this month’s issue.

Speaking of gardens, peaches are in their prime season now. So, visit your local farmers market, grab a juicy peach and dive into this issue.

Cheers to a sweet August!

Shae