Dear Diary
Imagine if your entries were shared for others to read. Would you change the way you write if you knew others were reading? Would you leave out the confessions and only write of the memories? Emotions of innocence and purity of a first heartbreak with a first love, a first disappointment, all captured in a safe place under lock and key – for no one to see. Imagine if you could find your diary today. Would you laugh and cry? More importantly, would you share your entries today?
Imagine if you were a singer-songwriter: your words accompanied by sound and music for others to enjoy. Listeners relate to the lyrics in different ways, making it their own personal experience.
Words accompanied by sound: music – an art form worth celebrating.
Music heals the soul as it is a magical form. People are brought together in camaraderie while the national anthem is sung. Celebration is shared while singing on one’s birthday. Some remember their most important dates with the sounds of their favourite songs. And let’s not forget the universal dances people break into when hearing classic lyrics like “Young man…” Arms fly in the air while everyone shouts YMCA.
There are many genres and the music never dies. A diverse group of talented singer-songwriters continues to emerge, allowing us to hear original works, with others giving us remixes of our favourite classics.
We are excited to be the founding sponsor and to announce the inaugural Alberta’s Top Music Artist (ATMA) Gala to take place in our capital city. Mark your calendars for November 7, 2010 and join us in celebrating singer-songwriters from all over Alberta. Finalists will be chosen to perform at the gala event for a live audience and the winner will be announced. Visit page 12 for more information on ATMA, which is co-hosted by our very own Miss Teen Edmonton, Chantal Hupka.
As we get older, our diaries – which we then call journals – convey very personal and sometimes very difficult memories and life experiences.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me that days would go by like minutes and that after fourteen years of marriage I would be experiencing my first heartbreak?”
A friend said this to me and I didn’t know what to say. So we asked a few experts what dating after 40 is really like and we encourage you to visit page 30 to see the results.
This year the Works Art & Design Festival celebrates 25 years. Learn more about them and how they are honouring the late Edmonton arts reporter Gilbert Bouchard on page 10.
Quarterly Connections took place on January 23, 2010 at Sacred Diva Healing Centre for Women, who knew we could fit over a hundred people into this space. Thank you for attending, and we share some of our photos with you. The next Quarterly Connections event is scheduled for June 12, 2010.
Alternative Trends is here to discuss and explore the latest trends we encounter in life, the art that brings us inspiration, and the questions we all have about the little (and big) things that make living interesting and exciting. In our pages you will find fresh ideas – for your health and wellness, your pet, your home, your relationship, and life in general. We are a consumer magazine with a special interest in the arts. In our special feature on page 17, we share ideas on how you can brighten your home.
In Money Matters, we know that discussing one’s financial situation is like writing in one’s diary – personal. We encourage you to answer your money questions together on page 25.
In Road to Success we highlight artists and their stories. We want to find the emerging artists – the unknowns who should be known. On page 52 we share Bonnie Matthews’ story with you. She lost over a hundred pounds the natural way and can be found today sharing stories on “The Dr. Oz Show” as a wellness warrior. We often forget that the career of an artist is sedentary at the best of times and this can cause weight gain, but everyone needs to stay active and eat healthy regardless of their occupation.
Speaking of eating, enjoy one of our “Tasty Treats” just like mom used to make on page 20. Renee shares her recipes – enjoy!
On page 23 we share stories from Writers Beyond Borders, a multilingual writers group. We held a contest in the summer with this theme: if money were no obstacle, how would you spend your days? We share Yukari’s story with you.
Get outside – go hiking, biking, camping, rollerblading, to the park, to the pool, to the lake, for a game of golf, sit on a patio. Spend more time with your friends and family this spring and take in an outdoor festival – Edmonton is known for its many great festivals. Alternative Trends will be attending Edmonton Humane Society’s Pets in the Park for our fifth year. Grab your furry friends and visit us at Edmonton Humane Society’s Pets in the Park on June 27, 2010 at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Park.
And returning to the idea of diaries… I encourage all to write their thoughts on paper. An active mind is as good as a healthy heart, and memories are forever – especially if you can refer back to them. If a picture is worth a thousand words, what are a thousand words worth?
If a picture is worth a thousand words, what are a thousand words worth?
Pardee, Publisher
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