EDITOR'S LETTER !

Hayley Lenington-Leray

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday season and are ready to dig into 2015.  There’s something to be said for a fresh start, a new year, a new month, a new season, and of course, the annual assessment period of inner reflection.  You know, the time when you take stock of life and determine what’s good and what needs some adjustment.  Every year, I resolve to eat less, get more sleep, and mentally train for the Self-Transcendence 3100 mile race and each year, I fail miserably.

        This year, I have decided to ignore the quick fixes for happiness, weight loss, and twelve-step stress modification miracles because, let’s face it, it’s hard to maintain the enthusiasm months after you’ve swept up the New Year’s Eve confetti.  My new resolve is to view every day as a perfect day to start living life better and if for some reason, things get sideways, that’s okay, because I have permission to start fresh tomorrow.  Winston Churchill once said, “Continuous effort – not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential.” I refuse to waste time in life’s penalty box, so my “continuous effort” is to set a laser focus on what’s truly important in all aspects of my life.  I will unapologetically, but respectfully hold my ground when the confrontational flames of life are hot on my heels by taking it one fine day at a time. 

        In this winter issue, we resolved to tune out the clutter by lining up a relaxing mix of winter warmth.  We cozy up in some innovative spaces that summon a male’s primal urge to seek refuge while still offering comfort to their female counterparts.  What’s the secret to career longevity?  The answers lie with some locals who have managed to remain in their respective career fields longer than most job hoppers have been alive.  Local artist, Jackie Larson Bread shares how a leap of faith catapulted her beadwork onto the world stage of Native American art, and the musical art of barbershop quartets continues to resonate through time and generations.

      We listen in on the 14th Street Barbershop Quartet as they show us how four part harmony is making a come-back and what they are doing to keep it alive.  And, at a time when so many are trying to do more with less, we show you how to eat high on the hog without breaking the budget.  We challenge two leading Central Montana chefs to each develop a four-course dinner for four people, all served up for under $25 bucks.  In our Discreet Palate department, we take you to an unassuming eatery on Last Chance Gulch in Helena where they pack more flavor-per-square-foot than any other eatery in the area.  This is, of course, a taste of what awaits you in this issue, so cozy up to the fire and get reading!  

        I hope you have enjoyed the last 12 months of SignatureMT. We love this industry and I hope it shows on the pages of our magazine, on our website and on our Facebook pages. From everyone at SignatureMT magazine, cheers and best “one day at a time” wishes for a fabulous 2015! 

If you would like to share your comments or provide feedback, please drop me a note at [email protected]