110 degrees magazine - Index

110 degrees magazine - magazine_08 - Index

FROM WHERE I SIT I LOOKING FOR INSPIRATION
If tough times come to me during 2008 — and I
know that some of them may — I’ll just close
my eyes and wait to feel dad’s pat on my head
telling me that everything’s going to be okay.
I’ve had some wonderful sources of inspiration
in my life.
My father passed away almost two years ago,
but I still remember how, when I was a child he
would hug me whenever I was fearful and tell
me that everything was going to be okay. Then
he would kiss me on the top of my head, and I
would believe that he had spoken the truth.
I sometimes still need that kind of reassurance
when the challenges of life become a little
scary. Becoming the head of this magazine, for
example, has brought a few times when I was
uncertain and fearful. But mostly I’m excited
about what we’re doing and going to do.
Now I’ve published my second issue of 110°
Magazine. Even before I became an owner and
the publisher, I thought the magazine was
wonderful, but now that I’m running the show
110° is filling my heart with a marvelous sense
of inspiration, joy, and pride — as though the
magazine were a child and I a proud parent.
I’ve actually come to regard the magazine as
sort of a stepchild because it had a life of its
own before I came along, and now I have joined
the family. Becoming a stepparent is not an
easy challenge and the payoff doesn’t often
come right away. However, I am willing to work
hard and be patient.
12 www.110mag.com January/February 2008
“MY FATHER WAS MY BIGGEST INSPIRATION WHEN
I WAS A CHILD. I WANTED TO BE JUST LIKE HIM.”
This kid is wonderful! I’m so proud!
We’re going into the New Year and I can’t
wait to see what 2008 will hold for all of us. I
pray we will remain healthy, happy, productive,
and inspired.
It’s actually easy for me to be positive. I
always believe the new year will be better than
the last. With my new magazine business and
new associates it is even easier to believe that
this will be so.
It’s also easy to believe that 2008 will be better
because 2007, for many of us, was frankly
not a year that it would take much to beat.
Many area families, including my own, have
been struggling with the vast correction the
real estate market has made and the associated
downturn in the economy.
Besides our increased financial struggles, all of
us are always confronted by the normal obstacles
and conflicts of life. However, as my dad would
say, “tough times build character.” And he knew
what he was talking about! Both my parents
grew up with little money and a lot of brothers
and sisters, and from a young age had to contribute
to their household incomes.
Hard work was a way of life. That’s probably
why, when my father became an adult, no job
seemed beneath his dignity or above his abilities.
Although only five-foot eight inches, and
weighing 130 pounds, or so, my dad was one of
the strongest people I’ve ever seen, both physically
and mentally.
My father was my biggest inspiration when I
was a child. I wanted to be just like him. I think
he originally wanted a boy, so he made me a little
tougher than most girls.
The two of us would have mock fights and he
would show me karate moves. We played catch
and he helped me enjoy sports such as basketball
and football.
My father also had a gentle side. I would
always prefer him to comb the snarls out of my
long blonde hair because he always seemed to
have more patience with my tangles than my
mom did.
This February will be two years since he
passed away.
I don’t think I will ever truly believe he is
gone. Probably because he isn’t really gone.
If tough times come to me during 2008 —
and I know that some of them certainly may —
I’ll just close my eyes and wait to feel dad’s pat
on my head telling me that everything’s going
to be okay.
And everything will be okay.
It is going to be a wonderful New Year! I’m
sure about that for myself and wish this for
each of you readers!
Tricia Piquero
Publisher
tricia@110mag.com