Tequia’s Top 5 Stories for 2019

To me, Spirituality & Health represents the ultimate life guide: Following its wisdom on self-care, happiness, and spiritual connectedness will certainly help you live your best life.

So, when my old friend Ben let me know there was an editorial opportunity at S&H, I jumped at the chance. Though I have been a business and tech journalist for most of my career, the prospect of writing for a magazine that embraced the values I practice in my own personal life was thrilling; I am honored to join such an amazing community of people.

For the past few months, I’ve acquainted myself with the work of the remarkable writers and experts that contribute to our magazine. Here are my top five pieces from the year:

• One of my favorite writers so far is Ruth Wilson. Her wonderful ability to showcase the spiritual aspects of everyday life is compelling. Her piece “Following the Spiritual Path of the Coyote,” is one of my favorites and explores coyotes’ peaceful existence with their surrounding environment and community.
• I also really enjoyed Lavonne Leong’s five-part series on inflammation. In particular, her article “How to Fight Inflammation with Food” was especially eye-opening.
• Speaking of food, I love stories that focus on how we can use food to treat common ailments. Leong’s piece on “4 Super Powerful Pantry Herbs (and How to Use Them)” therapeutically is a must-read.
• The older I get, the more I realize that the secret of keeping my body in good shape is by optimizing digestion. So, I naturally gravitate to stories like “Veggies (and Recipes) for Optimal Gut Health.”
• Last, but certainly not least, on my list is my No. 1 2019 favorite: the episode of our “Essential Conversations” podcast, hosted by Rabbi Rami, titled “Indigenous Food with Chef Sean Sherman.” Chef Sherman, whose recent cookbook was the recipient of a James Beard Award, works to raise awareness of and revitalize indigenous foods in a modern culinary context. The core of Sherman’s work addresses racism, food insecurity, conservation and sustainability, and our growing disconnectedness from each other and the earth. You don’t want to miss his fascinating conversation with our own Rabbi Rami.

What were your favorite stories? What would you want to see more of in 2020? Send us an email at [email protected].