A new year is upon us, full of possibilities. We’re presented with a fresh sheet upon which to draw up our goals and ambitions — literally or figuratively. There is excitement in that, but for most of us, there is also some trepidation.
It is often far easier just to keep doing what we’ve been doing, sometimes with positive momentum but frequently with inertia. Pausing and reflecting upon the direction we’re going can be uncomfortable. Lisa Brandt has gathered some helpful advice in her “New Year, New You” article for our Wellness department.
Martin Luther King Jr. was talking about faith when he reminded us about taking the first step, but I can’t think of anyone who acted on his faith more than him. We tasked Lisa with finding insights on how to not only take initiative but also sustain our efforts. I believe she has succeeded.
January is a great month for meeting Lifestyle readers face-to-face, as we have a booth at the Taste Ex food and drink show (January 9–10) and the London Home Builders’ Association (LHBA) Lifestyle Home Show (January 24–26), both at the J-AAR Expo Centre at Western Fair District. Please stop by and say hello. We will have a great draw prize and magazines to introduce Lifestyle to some new folks, but feedback from regular readers is especially appreciated. To whet your appetite, our Home Show preview will introduce you to some exhibitors and other local sources for your next project.
We’re also excited to help your dreaming by presenting the LHBA’s Awards for Creative Excellence winners for 2025. As usual, this was a fierce competition, and the quality of submissions was top-notch. Contemporary and local trends are in evidence, but so too are new interpretations of those. This Lifestyle is full of inspiration for 2026. That is the theme of our Marketplace pages, and as usual, our fashion retailers present beautiful clothes and accessories for your consideration. Writing this in December, I can say we’ve seen a lot of winter already, so it’s helpful that our “warm and cozy” theme has proven prescient.
As much as we love to “celebrate the positive” in these pages, there is no doubt that we are in an economically challenging time. Bruce Fyfe spoke to some automotive dealers about uncertainties in their industry, and I believe their helpful insights are relevant to almost every business. So I was glad that Bruce and his trusty partner Jane were able to take such an uplifting road trip to Grey County for us. We all need to keep putting one foot in front of the other (or getting behind the wheel!). “Supporting local” has never been more important, and we’re pleased to give you some suggestions for how to do that.
May 2026 be an auspicious year for all of us.
