Scintillations
a letter from the creator of Be Real Magazine

workshop 
announcement

in issue five
Scintillations
My Final Phone Call
Master Of My Fate
Almost Famous Photographers
Bugs
Cubicle Hell
Breaking Out Of My Cocoon
Letters To My Younger Self 
Boundaries & Walls
Surviving Today
Adventures In Chalking
Books That Changed My Life
Declare What You Are
My Most Brave Moment
Masks of Bravery  
Love And God
Moody Girl

poetry
Vocalizing
Bravery
The Imaginary "You"

afterthoughts
comments from our readers

contributors

take me back
to the cover
to contents page 

in every issue
What Do You Think?
Subscribe To Be Real
Write or Photograph 
For Be Real Magazine

future issues
Issue Six: Friendship
Issue Seven: Trust

previous issues
Issue One: Change
Issue Two: Balance
Issue Three: Spring
Issue Four: Goddess

There has never been a greater need for bravery at any time since I've been alive. There has never been a stronger moment than now to act as bravely as possible in every moment. In every moment I can choose to be brave, act courageously, or I can choose to cower down and hide.  Every single moment counts. 

This morning I wanted to cower. I procrastinated waking up, and even one of my cats seemed to sense this as she jumped on me, purring on me, urging me to get up and play. I really, really didn't want to get up. I hoped that if I stayed in bed, under the protection of my down comforter, in my safe little flat in San Francisco that I could go on pretending that I wasn't facing an ending today. I could pretend I wasn't about to go into work and say goodbye to my job and over three years of memories. Goodbye only to the memories because most of my friends were laid off in April.

But I chose to be brave this morning, chose to go out and participate fully with the world, and chose to go into my office for the last time.  It got easier as I walked out my front door and down the steep hill to catch the train.  Somehow I found a seat on the crowded train.  Two stops later a woman carrying an infant sat next to me and we chatted about the wonder of babies. I wanted to photograph her baby, strapped to her in a soft cotton sling.  I stepped up one more rung on the bravery ladder and asked her, explaining that I am creating a book about being real.  She responded with a pleased “yes”.

"There is something wonderful about mothers and babies," I commented.

"There's something very real about babies, there's no pretense," she responded.

"We should all strive to be like babies."  I wondered what my world would be like if I was that authentic in every single moment.

As I was getting off the train I noticed a caption in a fellow commuter's newspaper:

NO LONGER AFRAID

I knew if I could be brave enough to ask to take the photo, that I could face what the day would bring, including saying goodbye to the place that sustained me for the past three years.

As much as I hate the adage: as one door closes, another opens, I find it annoyingly true.  The door to my job has closed, but the door to what I really want to create in this world is opening. 

I have a new dream of bringing hands-on creativity to our world.  Be Real’s Lead Editor, Becky, and I dove into this by creating a writing workshop called Play With Your Words.  We held the first workshop this month with rave reviews that delighted and surprised us.  We’re holding the second one on January 27^th in the San Francisco Bay Area.  We designed this workshop especially for those who feel stuck in their writing, those who say they can’t write, and for those who love to write and want to do more of it!  We would love to see you there!

And my first big dream – the creation of Be Real Magazine – continues to be a mind-blowing success.  We’re celebrating an anniversary here at Be Real Magazine.  We’re ONE YEAR OLD this month.  One year’s worth of issues have been born here – it’s hard for me to believe that what was once a mere idea has blossomed into something more amazing than I could have ever predicted.  I didn’t know we’d have 2,000 readers from 20 countries – all I knew was that I wanted to create a home for novice writers. 

We have more new contributors for the Bravery issue – it would seem that the theme inspired some writers to come out of hiding!    Our contributors have so many great things to say about bravery – from our national disaster on September 11^th to stories of personal bravery.  Browse around please and tell us what you think! 

In closing, there are two groups of people I would like to thank.  First, I send boundless gratitude to our volunteer editors – Becky, Cynthia, and Pamela – who edit because of the love they have for editing.  Thank you – you are true miracles!

And second, my gratitude goes to our readers and our contributors, without you we wouldn’t have a magazine.  Thank you for a wonderful first year!

All the best,

Julie Russell
Creator
Be Real Magazine

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