Guest editor’s letter

A year to Celebrate 2020 wasn’t easy, but it brought out some of our best.

BY JULIE LAWRENCE

TThe year 2020 was one of the best years of my life. No, your eyes are not deceiving you. You read that correctly.

Yes, the pandemic made a lot of things, well, different. But it gave me the time and space to focus on the most important person in my life: me.

I spent a lot of years putting myself through a lot of turmoil. My life was chaos fueled by alcohol and very little self-respect. There were times when I honestly didn’t think I would be able to dig myself out of the mess I had made.

I had lost a marriage, jobs, friends and most importantly, hope.

A few years ago, I reached a crossroads: either give up completely, or change. I didn’t know it at the time, but this was a moment of grace given to me by the universe. The train slowed down just long enough for me to jump off. And I did. Miss that stop and who knows where I would have ended up?

Over time, I found a connection to a power greater than myself.

I relinquished control of my life and turned it over, which was a good thing because look where my best thinking had gotten me: nowhere good.

In taking my ego or self-reliance out of the equation, I was able to see what my true purpose was: to help others. To do the right thing. Where I used to take,

I now give. Where I used to lie, I am now honest. I learned that the energy

I put out into the universe matters. My impact on this world means something.

The year 2020 allowed me the time to work on my new self, which I may not have been given had everything not slowed down. And a huge part of that transformation is this opportunity I was given with OptiMyz. I love that I am able to share the stories of my fellow women, to support them in all the amazing things they do, and to celebrate their accomplishments.

To me, that’s what being a true woman’s woman is. To support, share and celebrate. And that’s exactly what this issue is all about: celebrating. The OptiMYz Top 100 Health Leaders is an inspiring showcase of extraordinary women who demonstrate greatness in the areas of our five brand pillars: Health, Mind, Life, Nutrition and Fitness.

In addition, we have our Hall of Fame list of women who have been kicking butt and taking names for as long as we can remember—and are still going strong. Unique to this year is our list of Frontline Heroes. Covid-19 has been difficult in so many ways, but it has also presented an opportunity for us to show up for each other. And that’s what these women did. From a doctor who was instrumental in de-stigmatizing the testing process to a musician who performed Disney musicals to entertain kids on Zoom, these women used their skills and expertise to help out in the best way they knew how. Finally, I got the chance to speak with R&B queen Deborah Cox. While we don’t have much in common talent or profession-wise, I felt a connection to her in the way she approaches making decisions in her life: by trusting God. This trust keeps her on the right path and has helped her steer clear of pitfalls that might lead her astray. A musician, actress, and LGBTQ activist, Cox is leading by example. I hope this magazine inspires you as much as it did me to get out of our own way and let our light shine through. In helping others, we help ourselves. Trust me on this one.

I raise my glass of club soda to those featured in the pages of this magazine, and also to all Canadian women who are working to make this a place better for all Canadian women.

Cheers!

Julie Lawrence is a communications specialist and journalist from Halifax, Nova Scotia. She is the associate editor for HUM@Nmedia – Canada’s largest health and wellness media company.