It has been suggested -- by those who live elsewhere and don't know better -- that we need to stop publishing this Ezine because we've run out of interesting Concord topics. HA -- that'll be the day! What with the 150th anniversary of the publication of Walden, and Elizabeth Peabody's and Nathaniel Hawthorne's 200th birthdays in 2004, and a community filled with art, politics, natural beauty and fascinating people, we could go on for another 38 years with nary a dry spell. When you live at the Center of the Known Universe, running out of steam just doesn't seem possible.

While the Magazine will be slumbering, the term "rest" isn't quite the right description for what I will be doing. In fact, those of you who know me would probably agree that "rest" is a somewhat foreign state of being for me. But I will be changing channels for a bit, reinventing my work-life, and considering where and how this time-consuming, all-volunteer publication fits into my life.

The past five-and-one-half years of the Ezine has certainly seen a lot of change in our town's life, as well as in my own. During those years, I've changed my career twice (once from holistic healthcare and now again back to it). I've written and/or published literally more than a million words. I donated thousands of hours as one of the founders of the Concord Neighborhood Network and was one of its first Co-Chairs. Just recently, I've gotten married for the first time. I've even been diagnosed with (and recovered from) what was supposed to be quickly terminal cancer. All the while, I've put down deeper and deeper roots in our community. This much change requires some periodic time to re-tool, re-consider, and re-lax...and this is just such a moment.

With my own health now so strong, I'm returning full force to working in holistic healthcare. But my perspective has been completely changed by all these years of volunteer community work -- I see a much bigger picture now and want to meet it, though I'm not entirely sure how...yet.

A Free Wellness Talk Fruits and Veggies: Leaping Tall Buildings in a Single Bound? With Deborah Bier & Luann Colombo Health Educators and Authors Did you know that according to the American Cancer Society, eating more fruits & vegetables is an important part of cancer prevention? But these colorful superheroes can do even more! Hear about exciting scientific research on how fruits and veggies can prevent or slow the development of many degenerative diseases including heart and auto-immune diseases, diabetes, arthritis, weight issues, high blood pressure & more! This talk is sponsored by JuicePLUS+. At the Concord Free Public Library Main Street, Concord, MA Wednesday, October 29 9:30 AM (repeated at 7 PM) Space is limited -- contact us to reserve your seat

My focus continues to be on prevention of illness and creation of wellness, including living as well as possible with illness. But I now understand how each of us can represent an asset or liability to our community. If we are living a healthy and vibrant life, we can enrich one another with our gifts, life-experience and energy. But when we are ill (physically, mentally, or spiritually), we can draw energy away from the community. We may find it difficult or impossible to share our unique talents with others as we struggle through each day.

By becoming more healthy -- or learning to live better with illness -- we can again become an asset to ourselves, our families, and to our community at large. I think this is vital because there's no doubt we have plenty of problems which need a lot of people's inventive and compassionate attention. The healthier we are, the more we can meet our challenges.

My interest in founding this website -- as well as much of my other community work -- has been to explore how to use communication to strengthen our community. I think it's been a very successful and exciting experiment. But I'm not sure that this ezine allows me to offer what are now my strongest and best gifts, talents and strengths.

While I'm wading my way through this question, you will hear from us if we add any new features or content to the ConcordMA.com site. In the meantime, do enjoy the site -- all pages will remain online exactly where they are now. And before any of us know it, six months will be over and we'll be back in touch. Until then, I can be reached at webmaster@concordma.com.

Photos: ©2003 The Concord Magazine
Backgrounds: Can you believe how gorgeous this set is!? Another wonder from our pals at Word of Mouth Web Design.