Welcome to the first issue of INSPIRE ME

Hello! Welcome to INSPIRE ME Magazine. This is our first issue and it’s aptly themed FRESH. A fresh new magazine, in a fresh new season of spring, with lots of fresh and inspiring content.

I’m so excited you’re here. There’s lots to discover, with content featuring inspiring figures in our region.

The goal with INSPIRE ME is to help readers understand they are not alone. That actually, we are all relatable. INSPIRE ME is about creating a space to tell stories and share our experiences, so we can make connections. We also want to encourage everyone to live fulfilling lives with balance. Plus share some informative, interesting and fun lifestyle content—It’s all part of living an inspired life.

This mission isn’t to be confused with toxic positivity. In fact it’s the opposite. This space is meant to encourage others to share their experiences as they are. We all struggle in one way or another. Let’s talk about it. We’ll strive to offer different perspectives with the same purpose: to inspire, share, teach, learn, and connect us.

Personally I’ve noticed when I focus on sharing my experiences with chronic illness, I make the most connections. I help myself and anyone else who just needs to know they are not navigating this world on their own.

INSPIRE ME has been empowering and motivating to create. We’re especially proud to support so many small businesses in this issue, many of them female-owned and led.

There’s a lot to process these days. We’re all living it, and handling it (or not) in various ways. Life is heavy sometimes. Case in point: global pandemic. Right now we’re deprived of how things used to be, and how we thought things were going to be. I hope INSPIRE ME magazine brings you some calm and peace to help you feel a little lighter.

So what refreshes me? A chai tea latte. A nice cold glass of white wine. Fresh flowers. Sunshine. A trip to the beach, any time of the year. Hiking through forests. Good conversations and laughing with friends.

In this issue, refresh your soul in our Well-being section with ways to spring clean your mental health. Refresh your body with mindful stretching techniques. Refresh your home in our Dwelling section with fresh spring home decor trends, organizing solutions, and gardening tips. Whatever you do, don’t miss the indulgent self-care shopping guide, filled with bright ideas to help you flourish.

We hear how one successful entrepreneur is navigating her fresh new business in a pandemic, and how another strives to balance a busy life.

We’re also sharing a fresh perspective on managing a chronic illness. Having Crohn’s Disease, this is a topic that’s close to my heart, but I want you to hear other perspectives on it too.

Discover the best gear for taking your outdoor adventures to the next level—plus the reasons why the great outdoors is good for the soul.

Browse books, shows, and movies to motivate your mind. Check out the recipe we’re sharing, topped with fresh spring microgreens, and a fun colourful cocktail you may find refreshing.

I hope you feel inspired by what you find here. Oftentimes, we are motivated by the actions of others. The experience of others reveals the potential in each of us.