10 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com MAY | JUNE 2017 JOIN OUR FAMILY! GoodLifeFamily has opportunities for tenured account executives and student writers. For more information, emailTricia@goodlifefamilymag.com. - Sheryl THE GOOD PEOPLE at goodLIFEfamily PUBLISHER & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Sheryl Lilly Pidgeon Sheryl@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.476.8131 EDITORIAL TEAM TriciaWhite ManagingEditor Tricia@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.725.1981 Elle Parks FashionEditor Elle@goodlifefamilymag.com Rick Seaney TravelEditor Rick.Seaney@farecompare.com COPY EDITORS Tracy Graivier Bell Senior Copy Editor Logan Blakely Audra Glidewell Copy Editors WRITERS Lisa Beach Karyn Brodsky Melissa Chaiken Kristin Cicciarelli Mike DesRoches Blake Heckel Melanie Hess Lindsey Pidgeon Deb Silverthorn AliciaWanek ADVERTISING TEAM Amy Lendl Advertising Manager Advertising@goodlifefamilymag.com Melinda Bogoslavsky AdvertisingAccountExecutive Melinda@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.264.0975 Lizabeth DeBoe AdvertisingAccountExecutive Lizabeth@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.727.9986 Beverly Parkhurst Moss AdvertisingAccountExecutive Beverly@goodlifefamilymag.com Direct: 214.226.6541 CREATIVE DIRECTOR Beth Donahue Beth@goodlifefamilymag.com PRODUCTIONTEAM Savannah Peer DigitalContentandSocialMediaManager SavannahPeer@goodlifefamilymag.com Jaxie Pidgeon ProductionAssistant Bill Brock Videographer Bill@whiterockfilms.com GOOD LIFE FAMILY 3308 PRESTON ROAD, STE 350 PMB #113 PLANO, TX 75093 GoodLifeFamilyMag.com LIVE. LEARN. LAUGH. (NEVER STOP). ABOUT US There are two things parents hope to give their children: roots and wings. But it’s often hard to know if the decisions we’re making are the right ones, especially when the world is changing so quickly. GoodLifeFamily is a resource for parents with kids tweens to twenties. Extensive and insightful content addresses the daily joys and struggles of finding a balance between kids and parents while keeping ourselves sane in the process. You’ll meet inspiring women and men who have stared down life’s challenges, survived, and now are willing to share their journey with you. GoodLifeFamily is committed to making a difference in the lives of our families, friends and communities as the go-to source. We’re living, we’re learning, and most important, we’re laughing.We hope you will too. CONTACT US SUBSCRIBE FOR FREE: GoodLifeFamilyMag.com/subscribe ADVERTISE: Advertising@goodlifefamilymag.com SUBMIT EDITORIAL IDEAS: Tricia@goodlifefamilymag.com goodPOINT A Way With Words Ihave always had a passion for the power of words. I earned a college degree in journalism, wrote advertising and PR copy for decades, drafted commentary to help place neglected kids in safe homes, wrote for many publications, and now I publish a magazine. So why do I so often find myself thinking, “I wish I could write like that?” How do some writers take us on a journey from Point A to “I never thought of it that way” and force us to think, laugh, cry, change our minds, change our lives? My daughter Lindsey, who is likewise fascinated with words, and I discovered the NBC show, This is Us, and binge-watched straight through season one and impatiently waited for season two. This is some mighty fine writing, people! And there are so many more. This summer I plan to watch every season of Downton Abbey and all the Seinfeld reruns. Then there are novels like The Poisonwood Bible, The Fault in Our Stars, The Art of Racing in the Rain, Me Before You. Movies like Cinderella Man, Saving Private Ryan, Forrest Gump, The Book Thief, Hidden Figures. Screenplays like Dear Evan Hanson, Wicked, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera. Oh, heck, let’s not leave out Disney films and Dr. Seuss. Of course, my list of favorites goes on and on, and I’m sure yours does too. What is the common thread weaving these remarkable pieces of written art together? I think it is writers who have an unsurpassed ability for being honest and trusting at the same time. They don’t need to tell their audience what to think, believe or understand. They trust that their prose will impact someone at their very core. These writers let people think for themselves. Good Life Family strives to be in this category. Some of our contributors are full-time wordsmiths while others are professionals with an expertise in their respective fields. But all of us work painstakingly hard to bring you content that will inspire you, enlighten you, evoke emotion, affect change. If you have just one ‘a-ha’ moment – be it a new recipe or life-altering advice – we’ve done our work. Please share your thoughts, advice and, yes, even your personal accomplishments and photos with us. If it’s important to you, surely it’s important to someone else too. I’m learning something new every day, and I can’t wait to see what I will know tomorrow. "I believe that there are some professions in the world that will last forever: doctor or a nurse, teacher, builder and a storyteller.” - Eppu Nuotio