To everything there is a season...a time in your life when something takes precedence and is important. If you are fortunate, such things come to fruition to help you learn and grow. If you are smart, you let them. When I first started attribute magazine I was fulfilling a dream that once lived on my teenage self’s bedroom closet amidst my cloud of quotes, magazine articles, words and photographs.

This experience has been nothing short of amazing as I have had the privilege of working with and interviewing some truly beautiful individuals.

I have learned a lot about running this show, managing a team of creatives (many of whom I never laid eyes on) and what I am personally capable of (always knew I was able to handle a lot but this proved that I could and also keep it together and push forward no matter what stood in my way). This was a calling I had that stemmed from high school journalism and extended into my passion for writing and people. There have been both really fun and really aggravating moments...but I wouldn’t trade the experience, for anything.

I have hemmed and hawed about how much longer to keep this effort going. I thought I would do so a bit longer but I have found peace, coming to the realization that now is the time to close this baby down. She has, as they say, run her course. Therefore, it is with peace (and a little sadness) that I announce that this is the last issue of attribute magazine.

There are several reasons behind it, one is that I am just being pulled to focus my attention of other things (writing more books and having a personal life); another is that I am no longer as driven to do it as I was, even a year ago. My heart is not in it and therefore continuing would just be me going through the motions, without emotion. Trust me when I say, it takes a lot of drive to produce, grow and make a publication successful: I am happy to know that we did have our moment in the sun, our goals were achieved in my eyes...and that is all that matters.

For those of you whom are longtime readers, you have seen the changes in content, now leaning more towards spirituality and finding one’s place in this world. This transition has come from personal change and this being my outlet/venture, of course it is going to reflect my personal attributes. My only wish, in parting, is that you have been touched by what you have found here. This site has been graced by some truly remarkable and personal accounts of life, growth and the world around us. For me, it has been a life saver and a blessing for certain.

This undertaking restored my faith in people. Having this under my belt also helped lead to restoring my faith in God and brought me back to Him. It led to the most important work I have ever done, writing a full-length, non-fiction book with Mary Pat Jones, whom I love dearly and whom entrusted me with something very precious; I could never fathom disappointing her, therefore, I spent the last year, happily, committed to writing this book.

I am elated to announce that in the coming months, our book, Walking Through Fiery Trials: A Year of Loss, Learning and Faith will be on bookstore shelves and on Amazon.com.

I ask you to consider reading it, whether you are a Christian or not, as I have already heard how it has impacted people and truly hope to inspire people with this true story of a woman who suffered tremendous loss in a year’s span and has overcome it in such a phenomenal way, anyone can learn from it.

I will pop the link to the book’s website on our Facebook and Twitter pages in the coming month, after I finish creating it (the site). The book will also have a presence on Facebook and we will let people know when it’s available.

For those of you who used to be on staff and who may be reading right now...You know how I feel about you. You are, forever in my heart and I will never forget your contribution to making this work so special: You helped me accomplish a dream. I love you all and you can ALWAYS call on me, for any reason. You have my gratitude, for eternity. Thank you!

As for me, I will be taking on a not-so-new role marketing a venue and some cabins in Georgia (you’ve heard about Stillmeadows Cabins), hopefully teaching acting classes, performing and working on other writing and business (ad)ventures. I won’t be slowing down...I don’t really get that concept...that is what eternity is for; this life is given to be productive and bring forth good fruit.

I mentioned in last month’s LFE that I am in the beginning stages of a book entitled, How Hard is Love (non-fiction). I also have another one begun entitled, Bound by Seduction (fiction by default). In addition, I will be starting another site, www.writingdownlife.com (not yet live), which will focus on life, all its ups, downs, blessings and my observations. I will probably pull over the remaining writer’s, as their work will fit there, very nicely. I will also seek out guest writers for Writing Down Life. 

I will be giving space there to How Hard is Love, as I work through it. (It will also be tied to my personal website, http://www.staceylouiso.com.) I also plan to finally try to put my poetry together in several anthologies...as there is a lot of it and it spans several decades.

You can also keep up with me on Facebook via my public figure page...ugh (because I fight against that role--I like my privacy).

My wish and prayers for you, dear reader, is that you live a blessed, fulfilled life and you take time to see the good around you; for there is more good than bad in this world, you just sometimes have to seek it out. Also that you find me, in my next venture, and let me know you were an attribute reader when you do. That will make my day!

Many blessings and God bless you!

Stacey R. Louiso

(Former) Founding Editor & Main Brain...

attributemagazine.com