On the Passionate Pursuit of our Values & How That Will Reshape Our Future
the letter from the editor as featured on page 5 of the March 2019 issue of Blank Spaces
Years ago, a conversation with my husband about our personal passions went a long way towards helping us better understand one another. That discussion taught us to make space in our relationship to pursue those things, ultimately resulting in both of us being happier. I would even go so far to say Blank Spaces wouldn’t exist without that conversation. Giving myself permission to chase dreams expanded my world from one where I was a wife and mother to one where I am a wife, a mother, and the owner of a growing publishing company. When we try to block the rudder of our heart, we stall the motor and breed frustration.
I’ve been thinking a lot about values recently and believe life is enriched when we surround ourselves with like-minded people. Sure, we can experience personal growth and practice the virtue of patience when we spend time with those of differing constitutions, but aren’t our souls better fed by finding their partners?
What are your passions? What do you place value in? Remove family and your day-job from the equation and think about what really makes you happy. For me, I claim words (writing them, reading them, sharing them), music (writing it, playing it, hearing it), and humour. When I first had this conversation with my husband I chose my home as my number three, but a recent discussion with someone who admittedly has zero sense of humour made it plain as day I’d rather laugh with anybody than have a sparkling kitchen floor.
So what are the values of Blank Spaces?
Words and art—those are easy—but even more important, I think, is community.
We are a motley crew, a vast collection of ages and experience and sexuality and geography, but we are united on two fronts: we are Canadian and we believe in the freedom to live creative lives. It wasn’t myself and this dream to start a magazine that brought us together, it is the shared passion—the value—we place in sharing our art.
I want to see this community grow beyond the binding of a print magazine or digital interactions on social media. I have a vision of bringing this community together in the physical world. What that looks like remains to be seen, but we’re seriously looking into different event options and hope when we do have a firm plan in place, you’ll make it a priority to come out and be part of it.
Consider this your formal invitation into our brainstorming sessions. Join our Event Talk group on Facebook at facebook.com/groups/BlankSpacesEventTalk and let us know what kind of event will bring the most value to our community as together we fill the gaps with story and colour.
Alanna Rusnak, Editor-in-Chief
