The Bangalow Herald

From the Editor

One of the threads that runs through this October edition is the courage it takes to step into the unknown. Several of our stories feature people embracing challenges that are at once daunting and exhilarating – whether it’s taking up a new skill, shifting careers, or embarking on the all-consuming, all-terrain adventure of parenthood.
There’s something both universal and deeply personal about that moment of standing on the edge of any new experience. Fear and anticipation mix in equal measure, often accompanied by that super annoying voice in our head that says: “This is impossible.” Yet, time and again, we discover that ‘impossible’ simply means ‘unfamiliar’ or ‘untried’.
What makes the stories in this month’s edition so compelling is not just the triumphs but the vulnerability – the willingness to risk failure in pursuit of growth. Putting yourself out there.
In a world that often celebrates only the polished end result, it is refreshing to shine a light on the messy middle ground of learning. The doing, not the ‘be-ing’.
Of course, taking risks doesn’t always mean doing something outlandish or something that is even visible to others. Sometimes it’s about sharing your creative work or ideas with others for the first time, speaking up in a meeting, or enrolling in that community course you’ve been pondering for that past 10 years…
As the days lengthen and the air warms, it feels like the perfect time to lean into possibility – to try something that mildly unsettles, excites, or maybe even terrifies us. When we reflect on the moments that shaped us, we often find that the ones that took us out of our comfort zone make the most lasting impression on us.
So, here’s to a month filled with courage, creativity and the joy of embracing the hitherto unknown.

Sally Schofield

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