By Sheryl Lilly Pidgeon | Publisher and Editor-in-Chief
Who doesn’t love a celebration? But make no mistake – a celebration is most rewarding after loads of arduous work and willpower; and the harder the duty at hand, the sweeter the success. Now, as we toast to our 11th anniversary, the GLF crew and I look again with so much to have fun. We have gone out on a limb in each facet of our lives however, like Mark Twain famously stated, “Why not exit on a limb? Isn’t that the place the fruit is?” I can say with conviction that I’ve by no means been as dedicated (professionally talking) to something as I’ve on Good Life Family Magazine.
I’ve invested my coronary heart, thoughts and assets into making GLF a PUBLICATION WITH A PURPOSE. We have grown, we have now gained momentum, and we’re making a distinction.
In the brand new 12 months, you will notice some huge modifications that replicate that momentum. We are “re-launching” with a re-brand to GOOD LIFE 24-7 to incorporate a broader tackle the phrase household as a result of we all know that the function of parenting usually contains aunts, uncles, buddies, academics, mentors, and so on.
When we launched Good Life Family again in 2015, most of our core crew was navigating life with center schoolers. Now, these tweens and youths are of their 20s – some are married and planning households of their very own. So, we’re rising up too. With the re-brand to GOOD LIFE 24-7, we’re increasing our voice to incorporate anybody who shares our dedication to serving to our children discover their wings and soar into the longer term.
Of course, we are going to nonetheless present leisure and journey assets for all ages, extra of our money-saving hacks, work-life stability methods, residence and backyard ideas, well being methods, and a lot extra.
In addition, we need to incorporate your voice extra. We need our readers to weigh in with their ideas and ideas for different households going via this journey collectively. We are engaged on a digital Town Hall-style gathering of the minds. We additionally plan to assist youthful voices be heard. If your youngsters are budding writers, illustrators or photographers, please allow them to know we welcome their expertise. We additionally plan to launch a world e-book membership, a “Voices and Visions” part highlighting our readers’ concepts and provoking messages, and a Points of View discussion board on new film and TV releases.
To be a part of us on our mission to coach, encourage and inspire optimistic change, attain out to Paige Jackson, our Marketing and Content Manager, at Paige@goodlife247.com.
As a writer and founding father of Good Life Family, I wish to take a second to toast my wonderful crew of pros – editors, proofreaders, managers, writers and designers, 4 of whom had been there from the start. Thank you for sharing my ardour to make a distinction within the lives of others by giving of your time and expertise. I additionally wish to thank our purchasers, our promotional companions and advertisers. Without you, we might not be capable to do the essential work we cherish.
As a mother, there is no such thing as a larger celebration than the well being and happiness of my grownup youngsters, Bryce, 27, who married his longtime love Daria (they began courting as freshmen in highschool!), who we whole-heartedly welcomed into the flock after they married two years in the past, Jaxie, 26 and Lindsey, 24. Each of them have “flown the nest” and are thriving in their very own journeys. Although I traded precious time with them to embark on the GLF journey (balancing household and work is a continuous problem for many of us, and a constant subject in our pages), the upside of that commerce is that my youngsters are witnessing first-hand the eagerness that goes into creating one thing worthy of celebration. In truth, they at all times discovered methods to pitch in to assist or cheer me on. I’m grateful for his or her help and sacrifice and for giving me the perfect job title within the universe: mother.
As a daughter, I’m reminded that being a part of the “Sandwich Generation” – these of us sandwiched between elevating our children and supporting our personal getting older mother and father – is each difficult and rewarding work and that every day must be celebrated.
Finally, no celebration is full with out wonderful buddies. We have fun the peaks (boy, will we!), however extra importantly, we’re alongside one another within the valleys. Deep friendships are constructed brick by brick and fortified by the check of time.
As I’ve continued to develop as an individual (a lot of that development attributed to the knowledge of our consultants for over a decade in Good Life Family!) and outline my life within the “empty nest,” I’ve discovered numerous alternatives to welcome new buddies into my orbit. I’ve discovered that assembly a pal at this level in my life usually appears like an instantaneous connection, one that’s simple, trustworthy, clear, soulful, such as you’ve identified this particular person perpetually – or want you had – and I’m going to cherish these relationships as they proceed to develop and develop within the years to return.
Similarly, now that I’ve extra work-life stability, I’ve discovered the time to succeed in out to and welcome again outdated buddies, some from my early childhood, who had remained in my coronary heart however life took us aside geographically. Spending time with these wonderful buddies is a real celebration of the time period life-long.
I’ll toast to all that!
Wishing you and yours a brand new 12 months crammed to the brim with well being, happiness, love, peace, and loads of “Cheers!”
Sheryl