Letter from the Editor: January 2016
On a Friday morning back in December, I arrived at the Livestrong Foundation’s headquarters for my first cover shoot as editor of Austin Woman. Knowing that I was about to meet the woman who is responsible for transforming this resilient and important cancer-fighting organization, the one we’ve watched weather a publicity storm of storms, I expected to be impressed, and I was. What I didn’t expect was for this experience to totally rejuvenate my own perspective on confidence, doing my best and finding strength in uncertainty.
Transitions present endless opportunities and challenges, and there’s no time like January to consider change. In the month of December, Austin Woman was in the midst of its own transition as we said goodbye to Deborah Hamilton-Lynne, AW’s effortlessly cool and longtime editor-in-chief, who is now chasing down her big dreams for changing the world. With wisdom from Deb, guidance from our publisher and excitement from the talented team of women that produces Austin Woman each month, I was ushered in with open arms.
Yet, on the day before our cover shoot, I found myself plagued with uncertainty. Was I asking the right questions? Was I asking too many questions? Was I doing OK? Was I doing the right thing? I was faltering in my own confidence, something that has, honestly and in some ways unfortunately, hardly ever been an issue. But this is the dream job, and the stakes are high. This publication, whose mission it is to support women, deserves the best service one can give. And what if my best wasn’t good enough?
Unsure of my own footing, I walked inside the building in East Austin that was once a paper factory and that Livestrong now calls home. The vibrancy of this repurposed space was exceeded only by the energy and passion that emanated from Chandini Portteus, our January cover woman. As I spoke to Livestrong’s new CEO during her hair and makeup prep and between takes, I was reminded that she might also be experiencing uncertainties.
Then I thought about Holley Kitchen, the subject of our second feature this month and a breast-cancer lifer who, in the face of the cruelest of cancer diagnoses, sparked a viral video about her unwavering mission to educate us all. These women are doing the best they can, and it doesn’t matter that they might feel unsure or uncertain at times. Who doesn’t?
If there’s strength in numbers, then knowing that even strong, successful, creative, interesting or hardworking women question themselves is a source of power beyond measure. I left Livestrong that day feeling refreshed and my sense of purpose renewed. With each page of this issue, our entire staff has tried to bring that revitalized perspective to life.
As a female and native Austinite, I can’t help but constantly proclaim to myself and those around me that women are amazing, Austin is amazing and therefore, the women in Austin are the most amazing people in the world. From now on, the questions don’t matter because that is the answer to my uncertainties. As Austin Woman continues to have enriching and empowering conversations, I can’t wait to hear the voices of Austin’s amazing women.
Sincerely yours,
Emily C. Laskowski
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