There comes a time in each issue that it is my turn to speak. After gathering all the pieces of the puzzle from this mosaic, the storyies each issue holds, I get to place one last piece into the whole. There are so many facets that bring together this magazine that you are holding, by so many talented individuals (all from our own hometown of Ogden), that this one moment is always a momentous time for me and for our staff as we then know it is near to the printer and a step closer to being into your hands and eyes. I tend to absorb all the words, images, experiences, advertising information and the general essence in the air of our community from the time this issue began months ago until now, then attempt to capsulate it all into the most appropriate message for you, and for me. The process is simple yet complicated at the same time. With so many issues at hand, challenges of a growing and changing community with many needs and all the activities swirling around us, it is a challenge to grab at which is the most important or to hold them all and package it into one small column of a few hundred words. So, as I use my first paragraph to explain the process, I now get to elaborate on the actual message.
STREET MAGAZINE is devoted to capturing all the goodness and excitement of Ogden, the town you live in, and present it back to you for your absorption and enjoyment. We make no excuses for our enthusiasm – we love Ogden. We see the potential, we adore her for what she is and we understand the history. We know the challenges and problems that are upon us, as any city experiences. We focus on the best the future can bring us and hope and pray we can be a part of it’s movement in that direction, helping to steer with the many who are guiding this ship into the future. We understand that it takes work and dedication of many in the community. We are privileged to work and meet regularly with many of the movers and shakers in Ogden. There are just too many to mention, many you will see in this editon of STREET.
I’m referring to the entrepreneurs that risk it all to bring you something new, exciting and special, and to the city officials, both elected and hired that work tirelessly toward a dream and vision that many share to actually make it happen, to the actual residents who support and add to the mix... for that is what it is about anyhow. We share it. We see it. Yet we know and understand the challenges to make the right decisions for the short, medium and long-term goals are not easy and often double sided in those decisions. What is right? Nobody wants to make mistakes and everybody wants success in all the projects that are undertaken. In any and all regards.
Many criticize and many praise the efforts made by so many. Luckily, many just simply get in and dig and make it happen in their own unique and special ways, with a positive attitude and noble intentions. Many of us were born and raised in this valley and never want to leave; many of us have left and experienced the world and returned, bringing back all those experiences and ideas to share; and many of us are brand-new to the area here in Ogden and fell in love immediately, what we all know is here. Some grumble because it is not someplace else. To those.. they should go there and then they will see and understand what is in Ogden and most likely will return with a different attitude and affection for this ground.
Nobody or nothing is really ever perfect. We all have our moments. We learn to accept what we can’t change and work towards changing what we can. It is true: attitude is the biggest part of what reality is to each individual. It can be different as night and day. One can see a vacant lot and see what can be, or what history it represents, and another sees only a pile of dust and dirt. Some see a mountain that never changes, yet others see it as ever-evolving as it alters itself continually each and every second towards what its very own eventual destiny will be. We are also evolving and changing individually as well and as a collective whole. What we do and don’t do does affect the whole.
We are in this ride together. It starts from the very STREET you live on to the matrix of roads that join us, all the way to the bigger levels of county, state, country and planet. With this knowledge, and knowing it takes all kinds to make this world go around, perhaps we will honor each others’ differences and uniqueness and learn from each other. This village is one spoke in the hub of many spokes. How we spin will affect the entire movement of the planet on her very axis. So, I say, enjoy your life. Enjoy each other.
Enjoy your community and environment and give of yourself to each other and the whole to make it all better. After all, we are connected in many regards, so what we do and think does have influence on each other. It takes every contribution from everybody in a postive direction to make miracles happen. And they are happening everyday.Ron is Publisher, Editor, Art Director and founder of STREET Magazine.
