The world is opening up again, as spring moves into summer and sunny skies and warm weather beckon us outdoors to ballgames and picnics and cooking on the grill. June is a time when we honor and remember our fathers and father-figures, and a perfect time to turn our issue’s focal point to men’s health and wellness.

As preparation for this introduction to our June issue, a few friends were asked to describe desirable masculine traits. They expressed hope that they and their children would become better able to embrace their masculine and their feminine qualities. This led to reflection on how gender roles and gender identity have changed in the past half century, becoming more fluid, more expansive, more egalitarian and less defined. Our society now offers opportunities for participation and equality in creating a family, raising children, in sports and educational activities, and in career and workplace options, all which require possession and honing of skills and traits that move beyond the traditionally masculine and feminine.

A few other highly valued attributes in our masculine loved ones that were shared and are worth mentioning are: being open-minded, self-aware, having patience, being loving, passionate, loyal, compassionate, trustworthy, determined, dedicated, strong, hardworking, thoughtful, fun-loving, and finding balance between being and doing.

In celebration and honor of the men and the masculine energies among and within us, making a difference in our homes and communities every day, we are grateful for you, and all the good that you contribute to our world. Take care of yourselves...your life is precious, and you are worth it!

May you be well, may we all be well,

Kendra & Jacqueline