Reflection always fills my mind at this time of year. I enjoy reviewing the year, the headlines, the personal highs and even the lows, the turning points and the stumbling blocks. Even more so, I relish looking forward, visualizing, planning and preparing for next goals.

But this year, my colleague and Delicious Living editor-in-chief, Elisa Bosley, and I contemplate something special as two New Hope Natural Media publications mark important anniversaries in 2014: Natural Foods Merchandiser’s 35th and Delicious Living’s 30th.

Here's a look at the first Natural Foods Merchandiser magazine:

Every day, she and I think a lot about the community that represents the natural products industry. This vast neighborhood comes to life in the pages of Natural Foods Merchandiser, particularly on the covers that celebrate retailers, the heart and soul of our industry. And it welcomes consumers into the lifestyle and into health food stores through the inspiring information in Delicious Living magazine, NFM's sister publication.

Both publications have chronicled the changing but ever-vibrant natural foods and supplements business for these three-plus decades. Elisa and I feel honored to helm such industry connectors.

But more important, our passion to serve you prevails. After all, natural products retail is where the healthy lifestyle starts—in your aisles—as customers learn about the best new items, respond to (or inspire) the next trends, and become happier and healthier human beings thanks to your help.

This year we want to celebrate you more than ever. In NFM and Delicious Living, and on the new-media platforms we now use to connect more directly to you and consumers, we will celebrate 35 (and 30) years by sharing memories and tidbits of natural products community history. We would love to share your words and photos, too, so please send them to [email protected] or [email protected]. 

To your next three (and more) healthy and prosperous decades.