EDITOR’S LETTER

SCAN TO VISIT US

HOW TO SCAN: OPEN, AIM & TAP

AS YOU ARE

Bam! Boom! Boom! Boom! “Where’s the milk? We’re out of it again!” Rustling of wrappers and cartons in the fridge. Cabinet doors opening and slamming shut. Bursts of laughter, nervejangling music, and “No ways!” explode in a carousel of YouTube videos played at top volume from a cellphone. So begins a day for my son, the ultimate extrovert who doesn’t realize he’s loud—though he’s happy enough to challenge randomly, “Fight me!” Despite the Irish twinkle in his eye, I’m not always sure it sounds like he’s kidding.

Then, squeak goes a floor board in the far reaches of the back hallway. A water faucet on, then quickly off. Pure silence until the aroma of coffee wafts through the doorway of my home office and tickles my nose. Then, a nearsoundless click as a door shuts. My daughter’s quiet-as-a-mouse daily routine.

Sometimes, I wonder if the only thing these two have in common is red hair and that they are nearly grown and flown. Personality-wise, they meet me from opposite sides of the spectrum. Funny how that is in families. Same parents—same upbringing, nearly same age and yet his maximum is to her minimum.

I gave up long ago worrying about nature versus nurture. Instead, my husband and I have done the best we can to encourage our children to understand who they are, for their own sake, and to put opportunities in front of them to consider.

I do sometimes find myself wondering how other people raise their children. This seems to happen when I work on this magazine’s annual Teens to Watch feature, this year titled “Shine Bright.” I am always mesmerized by the towering accomplishments of these local young people. How much is credited to their parents? How much to their nurturing schools? How much to the magic and science of innate talents?

Take a look at the students we chose this year. They’re an impressive group and, equally important, inspiring. As different as I am from them (I don’t actually want to do medical research or play in a soccer match), I find each of their stories uplifting, personally, and hopeful, for our community. I genuinely look forward to what they will accomplish as they move forward.

Further, if seeing what others do leads to stress and not inspiration, let’s practice a bit of self-care. For example, check out our story on spa treatments. Many women know all about the tranquility they offer, so I assigned this story to get a man’s perspective. I learned that, indeed, more men are interested in not only massage and pedicures, but also surgical treatments for better skin and body perfection. Here’s our report on what men might be trying on their next “day for him.”

I hope you enjoy the issue. Give yourself a moment to simply read through it—perhaps with a relaxing cup of tea or a background of loud streaming YouTube videos. Either way, our differences are beautiful.