With the threat of breast cancer looming ever large, increasing numbers of women of all ages and backgrounds find themselves coming face to face with their own mortality. And for the survivors, a normal life is often elusive.

A passionate drive to make a difference led one woman to pick up a hammer and a nail and head to Costa Rica, determined to help construct homes for people in need. The friendships she discovered and the gratitude she experienced gave her life new purpose.

How creative, you ask, can you possibly be amidst the hustle and bustle of your crazy life? Take a simple, purposeful step or two (OK, maybe a leap) with a group of friends and you might find that your world feels a lot more real.

Fellow readers,

My father is an unlikely environmentalist. To demonstrate his resistance to environmental consciousness, I could point out that for many years his vehicle of choice has been the anything-but-green Chevy Suburban.

We often think of our parents as heroes because of all they've given us that's tangible. Maybe we hear the name of someone famous and are reminded of how their deeds inspire us to be better.

How are you going to change the world this year? It's not the gargantuan task you might think. Why not expand the horizons of just one other person by becoming their mentor? The following piece from Barcy Fisher encourages us all to take the leap.