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From the Editor James
Twenty-four years ago, I was a freshman in college playing Division III lacrosse. And in early January, when students returned to campus from our holiday break, the student-athletes would jump right back into training and preparations for the spring seasons ahead. For me, that meant two-aday practices, seven days a week. Mornings we’d wake at 6:30 a.m., meet at the track by 7 a.m. (you better not be late), and start every sunrise with a three-mile jog into town followed by another hour of sprint work back at the track. Afternoons were dedicated to field work, sticks in hand. Coach gave each player our practice attire; shirts, shorts, and such. And the shirts we received featured an inspirational quote of sorts that if nothing else, we’d see repeatedly as we jogged in-step and in-line, day in and day out. Those quotes were intended to inspire us, and I think in some way they did their job.
Today, in the depths of my dresser, at the very bottom of a stack of ragged t-shirts that I’ve held onto way too long (and now serve as my yard work attire), lies the shirt from spring semester 1998. It bears the quote:
Perhaps I’m reminded of this because as the calendar turns to a new year, my waistline tells me that it’s time to whip myself back into shape—the holiday break is over bud. And those two-a-days—especially the frigid January mornings running to complete exhaustion—are memories that, in some twist of masochism, actually inspire me. They ingrained an understanding that to achieve our goals—whether they be weight-loss, strong finances, learning something new, or improving our communities—we must exercise dedication, discipline, and, yes, risk taking.
This is all to say, welcome to 2022! Are you ready to be great? We see this year being one in which we and our publications will be taking a few risks, constantly learning, and working hard to not only create a better product…but to foster community building. Over the course of the year, we’ll examine some of the controversial issues affecting us (this month, see “Unpacking the Mystery of Critical Race Theory”); we’ll offer insights and service pieces to help you make critical decisions (see “The Perfect Fit” and “Your Financial Checklist for 2022”); we’ll have enlightening pieces about our natural surroundings and influence (see “Our Scenic & Historic Rivers: A Nature, History, and Culture Article Series”); and we’ll always include the many events, entertainers, businesses, and personalities that are integral to our communities.
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You’ll also notice that the magazine in your hands is brand new—either a complete surprise in your mailbox or a surprisingly new look (for those that formerly received What’s Up? West County). Yes, we’ve rebranded this publication What’s Up? Central Maryland to better reflect and synthesize our distribution and coverage.
You’ll see a lot packed into this issue. And it’s my hope that it does, indeed, reflect your interests and what’s important to the community—and if the content within elicits praise or concern, please reach out to me directly by email. You can find contact information for myself, James Houck,and our entire staff, at: Editorial Director Whatsupmag.com/meetthestaff. We look forward to hearing your thoughts.
Cheers to a new year, new endeavors, and great ambitions!
