“Embrace and Adapt.” As I sat down to write my final Editor’s Note for the 2026 editions of Experience Life, that’s the phrase that kept coming to mind that best characterizes how I’ve handled many situations over the past year or so.
We all know that nothing is static and change is constant. This can be a welcome fact, like how the body gradually transforms when we stick with a consistent workout routine. Yet there are some periods when change insists on being front and center rather than unfolding quietly in the background. And when change dominates, we have two choices: Resist it tooth and nail, or take a few deep breaths and embrace it.
Personally, I’ve dealt with a handful of unexpected circumstances that have made me change how I engage in certain relationships and how I approach some aspects of my health. I’ve had tough but important conversations, and I’ve set boundaries to protect my mental well-being. Along the way, I’ve learned a ton about myself, my values, and what I’m capable of.
Professionally, it’s felt like a rollercoaster ride of change for the Experience Life team — nerve-racking and overwhelming at points, but also exciting. We’ve said goodbye to two longtime team members who have transitioned into a new career opportunity and retirement, respectively — shout-out to former managing editor, Courtney Lewis Opdahl, and deputy editor, Michael Dregni, for their many years of amazing contributions and collaboration.
We’re welcoming new managing editor (and decades-long freelance writer) Karen Olson, who’s helping to streamline our editorial process and systems, which is opening the door for even more robust health and wellness coverage in the new year. This, in turn, is creating opportunities for team members to grow their skillsets and knowledge as we expand our content offerings.
It may not seem like it when we’re in the midst of it, but change can be exactly what we need to grow, discover what’s possible, and thrive.
We’re also preparing for the retirement of our executive creative director, Lydia Anderson, who has been at the helm of our art team since the very first edition of Experience Life in August 2001. For more than 25 years, Lydia has set our creative vision, creating the beautiful aesthetic that brings each issue and every article to life. When she steps away in late December, it will mark the end of an era, as well as a partnership that I will deeply miss.
All said, it’s been . . . a lot. Thankfully, though, we’ve faced — and are facing — these shifts as a team, working through the ups, downs, and unforeseen together. Plus, because we regularly cover change and its role in overall health, we know the importance of embracing it, adapting to it, and learning from it.
We also understand the fundamental and essential roles that our daily habits and choices play in helping us be resilient enough to navigate these shifts. We know that getting regular movement and exercise influences the body and mind (see “The Powerful Benefits of Moving Your Body”) right down to the cellular level (see “How Your Mitochondria Support Your Health and Vitality”). We know the importance of nurturing strong relationships and community (see “In This Together”) and the power of forgiveness in freeing us to let go and move forward (see “How to Forgive Someone Who Hurt You (Without Losing Yourself)”).
It may not seem like it when we’re in the midst of it, but change can be exactly what we need to grow, discover what’s possible, and thrive. You’ve got this. We’ve got this. Onward.
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