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in issue six
Scintillations
Real Friendship
Letters To My Younger Self
My Friends And Me
Real Dream Interpretation
More Real Dreams
Surviving Friendship
Grateful For That Kiss
Supportive Friend
Moody Girl
Making Friends
  With My Inner Critic
Low Speed Chase 
  To Power
Periodic Friend
Life Based Upon A Word
Follically-Challenged 
  Friendships

photography
Scott Carlisle
Dana Ehrlich

poetry
Poetry from 
Play With Your Words

contributors

Write or Photograph 
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future issues
Issue Seven: Trust
Issue Eight: Power

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

"I get by with a little help from my friends."  

What wise group of people sang that?  Because of my friends, and my family who have become extended friends, I have walked through a plethora of change in the last 6 months and I'm still standing (and if you've read the last few issues, you know exactly what I'm writing about).  I'm still laughing.  And heck, I'm laughing more than I ever have.  I am creating a life I love in the space of all that went away, and I am finding that I am a person I love.  

But that's not what I wanted to say here.  I want to tell you about my friendship with one phenomenal woman who has put up with me for a decade and a couple years.  I was going to write a whole story about it, but that didn't happen (Sorry Schnook!).  This woman is the one who without her, I am less myself, and with her I am so much more of who I love (except when I get preachy, and then she loves me anyway).

I called her the other day just to read her a story from The House At Pooh Corner.  And y'know what she did when I finished?  She opened her copy of the very same book and read me a story!  It was one of the best Saturday morning conversations I've had in ages - it colored the rest of my day with delight and laughter.

If it's true that we're all judged by the company we keep, I'm sitting pretty.  My recent and enduring friendships have changed my life.  I cherish every single one of you.  My life is filled with love, love that I can feel, taste, touch, smell, and sense every moment of every day when I pay attention.  Why?  Because of my friends!

And because of this wonderful creation, I have made new friends, people I never knew before we started this.  I got to have dinner one night with a famous author I adore.  I have made better friends with people who were acquaintances, just because of what I wrote.  That is the magic in writing - to unite with people and create a foundation for mutual love. 

Speaking of writing, I'm positively delighted with this issue.  We have for you stories on friendship, one on making friends with your inner critic, and lots lots more (I couldn't resist that).  And for even more fun, a few dreamers have submitted dreams! Goodness, we were wondering if that column would take off. 

Side note to one dreamer in particular: I want to apologize to because her dream wasn't included because my computer caught a virus and ate it and I have no way to contact you.  Please resend your dream so we can catch it next time and know I have learned to make many backups.

Our list of visitors keeps growing.  About 3300 people have come from FORTY-FOUR countries to see our Internet publication in the last 3 months.  I am constantly amazed.  What else can I say, except, WE WANT FEEDBACK PLEASE!  We want to hear from you!  We want to know who you are and what you love about Be Real Magazine!

If this was the Oscars, I would predictably finish up with who I want to thank.  I'll do this now because I want to be a teensy bit predictable.

Thank you to Becky, the talented and creative co-creator of Be Real Magazine.
Thank you to Cynthia, Pamela, and Jodi our contributing editors for Issue Six.
Thank you to everyone who wrote for this issue.
Thank you to all of our readers.

You all contribute to our success, and I am very grateful.

Much love,

Julie Russell
Co-creator
Be Real Magazine

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