Letter from the editor
If there’s one thing life has taught me, it’s that the best paths are often the ones we never planned to take.
I remember my first yoga class in 2015, feeling completely out of my element. As I struggled to hold a pose, the instructor said, “It’s all a practice. There is no performance. Life’s about the journey rather than the destination.” I smiled and nodded, but deep down, I didn’t quite get it.
I had always been focused on what was next—earning the degree, landing the job, buying the house, then the bigger house and always chasing the next goal. In my drive to move forward, I almost missed what was happening right in front of me. The kids grew up. Our parents grew older. Life wasn’t waiting for me to reach the next milestone.
Then, just as I was starting to understand that, everything changed. Bob’s job took an unexpected turn. In response, he shared with me his dream to start a publication. He had never mentioned this before and I thought he had lost his mind.
The odds were against us. Print publications were folding left and right, but Bob believed in what we were creating—something real, something that connected people and celebrated our community. So, we took a leap of faith, and nine years later, I can see that it was the best decision we could have made.
But even then, I fell into my old habits. (I was still going to yoga, but apparently, I’m a slow learner.) At first, it was all about survival—just keeping the paper going. Then it became about growth—40 pages, 50, 60. And eventually, the dream: 100 pages. Each milestone felt like a finish line, but there was always another one ahead.
Through it all, we watched other publications close their doors while we held our breath and pushed forward. It wasn’t always easy, but we never stopped believing in our mission. This wasn’t just about filling pages—it was about telling stories, supporting local businesses and giving our community a voice.
So here we are, nine years later. Still standing. Still growing. And most importantly, still learning that success isn’t about reaching a final destination—it’s about showing up, staying present and appreciating the journey.
Thank you to our readers, advertisers, writers, photographers and everyone who has supported us along the way. We wouldn’t be here without you.
And as for me? Well, I’m still practicing.
Peace & Love,
Cindy
