From the Editor

February is Full of History!

I want to start by saying Congratulations to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on their incredible and historic 2021 NFC Championship win.

Since Tom Brady signed with the Bucs this offseason, not one but three professional Tampa Bay teams have made it to their respective championship matchups. My beloved Tampa Bay bolts ended the 2020 season as the Stanley Cup champions after beating the Dallas Stars. The Tampa Bay Rays made it to the World Series in October but fell to the L. A Dodgers, and now, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will have a chance to win the Super Bowl this February. Go Bucs!

Besides football, February is full of romance and food. Many of the days celebrated in national monthly events during February are food-oriented; I see you “Valentine’s Day” and “Chocolate Lover’s Month.” If you’ve read any of my previous articles and editorials, you know how big of a foodie I am, but this is not my focus. February also happens to host “American Heart Month” and “Black history month,” a couple of important causes that I wanted to bring awareness into.

Focusing on your heart health has never been more important. Heart disease is the No.1 killer of Americans. People with poor cardiovascular health are at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. The good news is that heart disease is preventable in most cases with healthy choices, which include:

• Not smoking. • Maintaining a healthy weight. • Controlling blood sugar and cholesterol. • Treating high blood pressure. • Getting at least 150 minutes of moderateintensity physical activity a week. • Getting regular checkups.

Research shows that we’re more successful at meeting personal health goals when we make them “public,” which gives us a sense of accountability. So if you’re on social media, that means sharing your personal goals on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and other social platforms. Share your health goals with your relatives, friends, and acquaintances using hashtag #AmericanHeartMonth and #OurHearts, and see what others all over the country are doing to reach their goals. Bring awareness to the importance of having a self-care routine and inspire yourself and others to have a healthy heart!

Since 1976, every American President has designated February as Black History Month and endorsed a specific theme. The Black History Month 2021 theme, “Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity,” explores the dispersion and diversity of Black families across the United States. February is an opportunity to honor Black Americans’ too-often neglected accomplishments in every area of endeavor throughout history.

Some ways to celebrate Black History Month include but are not limited to; Supporting an African American business. Visiting a Black History or Civil Rights Museum in your local area. Donating to a Black charity or non-profit organization. Signing up to mentor an African American child in your community. Calling out racism and prejudice in your community. Reading books and articles on Black leaders, authors, and other historical figures, amongst others.

I hope you’re all still finding ways to stay positive, strong, and healthy throughout these unprecedented pandemic times. I know we were all hoping and expecting COVID19 to stay in 2020 and be over by now, but it’s still in full force. Please continue to do your part, and continue to make smart and healthy choices for yourself and your loved ones.

Until next time,

Carla M. Dubis Tedeschi