As we weathered (pun intended!) the final blustery days of winter in our respective pockets of North America, our Exchange production team members all agreed on one thing: we needed some fun. Joy. Lightness. Inspiration. Frankly, we all needed a break.

We wanted to offer Exchange magazine readers a bit of respite, as well—even more than usual, we wished that everyone who picked up this issue of Exchange magazine felt happier when they finished reading than when they began.

Could there be a more appealing starting point than animals? Pollinators, class pets, wildlife and therapeutic support animals—all are featured in this special issue.

We reveled in each new file of nature-saturated photos we received from our cover program, Under the Gingko Tree, and delighted in all of the critter-focused images that comprise our Focus On: Animals. The benefits for children of time in nature have been explored in many books and articles, including these new contributions. Anecdotally, many people I have spoken with this year have credited nature with almost magical powers of healing and renewal. (Confession: I am one of those people! Daily dog walks in the woods have been my personal saving grace as I have navigated remote learning, separation from my family, and a closed United States-Canadian border.) One of my colleagues routinely sends our leadership team stunning photos of sunsets over the lake near her home; another takes morning bike rides with her son, rain or shine. In a recent goal-setting session, nearly a dozen of my coworkers shared plans for prioritizing weekend hikes and daily walks; the conversation became almost comical in its repetition. Nature! Walks! Fresh air!

These activities are not just important because they coax our endorphins out of hiding—research reveals that time in nature can lower our blood pressure and stress hormones, mitigate anxiety, enhance immune system function and improve emotional outlook. Yes, please!

For many, spring and summer 2021 have taken on a greater significance than in years past. The new season presents us with an opportunity for rebirth, an invitation to cast aside our athleisure-wear and hygge tendencies in favor of gardening or exploring. As the pandemic’s grasp on our daily lives slowly relinquishes its unforgiving grip, we are children anew, celebrating each small return to community engagement—driveway conversations with neighbors, classroom re-openings, and children once again ruling the roost at local playgrounds.

If COVID-19 has taught us one thing—and let’s be honest, we have all probably learned several dozen lessons this year that we were not necessarily seeking—it is that this journey is a marathon not a sprint, and the best things we can do for each other are to practice compassion, empathy and patience.

For many of our readers, the spring and summer months are bringing hope, an emotion that, of late, has been in short supply. For our international readers, the journey back to “normal” may be slower, with more bends in road. Still—rays of sunlight are breaking through the clouds. For all of you, I wish these things: long, dreamy walks. A snuggly companion animal. Moments of appreciable joy. Fun. Hope.