Letter From the Director

FROM THE PUBLISHER:

Cheers to Emily: We are sad to see her go, but so excited to watch her grow! Our director of content Emily Effren has headed off to pursue an exciting opportunity in the Big Apple. Help us send her off with warm tidings and a basket of luck as her adventure unfolds. Cheers to Emily! And as we saw adieu to Emily, help us to welcome our newest director of content, Monica Hand.

THE OUTDOORS HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN ESCAPE, A REFUGE.

Growing up, I was what my parents called a “delicate child,” basically meaning that anytime I went outside I ended up with some kind of awful allergic reaction that no one could diagnose. So, naturally, I didn’t get to spend too much time outside as a kid and had to make do with my imagination within the walls of my family home.

Once I grew out of that reaction in my early teens, however, I became obsessed with the outdoors. Now, I’m proud to say I’ve camped all over Texas and surrounding states, hiked mountains all the way in Peru and spent much of my time in Austin at the Greenbelt.

And still, everytime I’m in nature, even if it’s just a walk in my neighborhood, I never fail to feel its unwavering power and find myself in awe.

That’s kind of what this issue is all about: finding ourselves in awe of the depth and grandiose beauty of the world around us. This past year, we all found a new appreciation for the outdoors. From eating outside to working up a sweat, the open-air setting gave us peace of mind to go about our days and pretend — even if just for a moment — that everything was okay and that everything was normal. It provided a peaceful state of being, even when our minds were in anxiety overload.

As we again find ourselves unsure and uncertain of what is to come, let’s take a look at the outdoors and be reminded of what it has done for us. When the world opens up (fingers crossed), let us not forget how that open-air park was there for us. Perhaps you can even find a way to pay back that service through local nonprofits and conservation efforts.

In these pages, you’ll find stories about some amazing people who are working hard to conserve, enjoy and get the most out of the natural world around them. I myself had the pleasure of meeting with and learning from three women taking on mental health through slacklining. They go by the name of Meraki Slack, and together they have brought the slackline sport to recovery organizations of all types — utilizing the unique lessons of walking on a tightrope to build self-confidence and control in patients.

Another amazing group of women I got to meet this issue was the Black Women Who Kayak + (BWWK+) Facebook group members. Founded by Tanya Walker, the organization is breaking down barriers and shattering the “outdoorsy type” stereotype one event at a time. The article by Jacqueline Knox takes you through several of their adventures, and you can feel the members’ love for eachother and the natural world through each and every quote.

My hope is that you find your inner love for nature reignited as each story touches on the different aspects of fall. What’s more, I hope you find yourself on a walk and in awe of the world around you.

Keep Austin Fit,

Monica Hand

DIRECTOR OF CONTENT