Editor’s Note

Thoughts from the Editor

My wife and I have been in a conversation about our roles lately. We’ve been talking about all the jobs, duties, and relationships we are responsible for. The goal of our discussions has been focused on how we might get better at them. It’s been a pretty fun and enlightening consideration.

A few weeks ago, we stayed up late, making a list of our roles together. As she read over my shoulder and helped me begin the hard task of narrowing down which roles are expendable, I found that adding is so much easier than subtracting.

My list began with the most important stuff; Jesus-Follower, Son, Husband, Dad, Brother, Friend, CEO, Colleague, Tottenham Hotspur Supporter (Come On You Spurs!)...and as the list grew longer, the more trivial roles of BBQer, Dog-poop scooper, and On-call-pictureframe-hanger emerged.

It was a revelation to see all the hats one person could wear. I’m sure that I’m not alone in the fact that the responsibilities and impact of my life can feel larger than my capabilities. Piling on more and saying yes seems to be the natural progression of my life.

It’s got me thinking about how I handle my Thanksgiving plate. There are just so many great options; it would be a travesty to not try them all. The green bean casserole has an honored place on my plate, followed by the gravy and mashed potatoes. Turkey tends to be the canvas for a nice helping of stuffing, and additional gravy. I can’t forget the sweet potatoes and cranberry sauce. By the time I’m finished, my plate is heaped full, edge-to-edge.

It’s a familiar sight at 94.8% (not a validated percentage) of American Thanksgiving feasts—“the perennial plate over-filler.” I’m that guy, and it’s a real problem, especially when the tryptophan kicks in and a nap becomes a requirement.

Like my Thanksgiving plate, my list revealed the edge-to-edge nature of all the roles and responsibilities I’ve giddily heaped on.

As I’m heading into this year’s Thanksgiving festivities, I feel a little more aware of my tendencies and the consequences of a plate that’s too full. Yet even with a full plate, I feel deeply grateful for all I have.

Reflecting back on this past year, It’s been a real honor to share the amazing stories of the people, history, food, events, and life all around us. Thank you to our advertising partners. Without you, Lifestyle Magazine would not exist and we would not be able to share the stories of inspiration from our community.

From all of us at Topograph (Publisher of Lifestyle Magazine)—thank you!

I hope and pray your holidays are filled with life and goodness. Just take it easy on the serving size.

Cheers,

Eric Riley

Executive Editor Lifestyle Magazine

President / Owner Topograph