Publisher’s Letter: Finding a Resolution
Are New Year’s Resolutions still a thing? The way the past two years have gone, it seems the calendars just blend in with one another, rather than a hard restart on Jan. 1. It’s easy to feel like the last time “Happy New Year” actually meant something significant was on Dec. 31, 2019, the eve of 2020. And, well, we all know what has happened since then.
That seems like a good place to start. A good resolution, for all of us, could be simply feeling grateful for the days we have, rather than feeling sorry for the days “lost” amid this pandemic or spending too much time daydreaming about hypotheticals of the future. The here. The now. The present is a gift in and of itself.
As is our beautiful state. So if you’re on the hunt for even more resolutions for 2022, we’ve got a good one for you in this issue: Visiting all of the Arkansas State Parks. (Spoiler: There are quite a few. Better get started.)
If there’s one thing I know about this time of year, it’s that warming up your soul during these winter nights starts in the kitchen. For that warmth, we’ve got another edition of AY’s Arkansas Bucket List on the fiery fare of hibachi, as well as some soul-soothing chili and soup recipes.
You know what else happens this month? A new Scream movie hits theaters, the first of the franchise in more than 10 years. If you’re wondering why I’m telling you about this in AY About You, you’ll be happy to read one of this issue’s features about the Arquettes — which includes David from Scream, and his wife Christina, from Hope. Together, they’ve become quite a tandem in the filmmaking world, and are among the major players putting Arkansas on the cinematic map.
Speaking of entertainment in the Natural State, this issue also includes a lineup of local country music stars — Mae Estes and the Render Sisters. I think it’s safe to say that we see (and hear) great things in these girls’ futures.
Oh, and if your New Year’s Resolutions are a little more conventional — like, health- and looks-related — then we’ve got you covered there, too. Once with our inaugural special section Ask an Expert: Health, Wellness & Beauty, where local experts answer all the questions you need answered. Then with our special health focus about some of the detriments technology is having on our physical health, and what you can do to help.
I hope you enjoy this issue as much as we did.
Happy New Year!
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language, and next year’s words await another voice.” — T. S. Eliot
READ MORE: 10 Best Dishes of 2021
