Letter From The Director

THIS YEAR IS A NEW LEAF TO TURN, AND WE’VE BEEN TRAINING TO LIFT IT.

For the past few months, Austin Fit Magazine has been graced with the presence of Monica Hand – the previous Director of Content. In her brief time in this role, she pursued enticing stories all while managing a team of writers and prepping for publication. Though we never got to work alongside each other, I admire the tenacity she had for the field as well as her heart for the team, writers and interns with whom she worked closely.

Now, she’s left to pursue teaching in Japan – which is such a dream – and she’s passed the baton to me. I’m excited to step into the shoes she left to fill, and they’re pretty big shoes! If you had asked me a few months ago if I thought I would be where I am now, I definitely would have laughed out loud. If I’ve learned anything from this past month of transitioning into my dream role of a Director of Content, it’s that we really are all in this together (and yes, I am quoting “High School Musical”).

Even as Monica was training me in the remaining weeks she had in Austin, I felt a connection with her as two people who just love writing and putting together a publication for the Austin community. And this connection stretches far beyond the camaraderie of teammates who want to deliver and provide for the Austin Fit Family — it goes to you, the family, as well!

After two years of hardship, the push and pull of COVID-19, politics and everything in between, we finally made it. Now, we stand together as an Austin community ready to turn the page into what this new year has for us. Whether you’re a prized nutritionist, a yoga fanatic, a fitness maniac, a mental health advocate, a wellness guru or you’re just the everyday person looking for ways to stay fit and healthy, you belong here!

For this issue, we’ve got loads of Best Of goodies just waiting for you to unpack. But keep in mind, the intention behind it goes beyond showcasing local superlatives and highlighting the best coffee shops or physical therapists. No, this is a space we really get to live out the idea that we’re all in this together. The Austin Fit Family is one that supports one another, in the good, the bad and the ugly.

I’ll never forget my first few weeks on the job, not really sure how I got here but happy that I did. I scheduled a time to meet over Zoom with my editorial team – Jackie and Amanda. We spent a good amount of our time together just giggling over the fact that all three of us may be new to these roles we were stepping into, but we were going to figure this out together.

So as we wrap up this past year and move into 2022, let’s really press on through this newness, lean into the change and walk alongside one another because we’re truly better together.

Keep Austin Fit,

Landry Allred, Director of Content