Editor's Letter - Goals.

Editors Letter - Goals. Originally published in the Spring 2023 issue.

I’ve learned something recently that really sunk in. Someone said to me, “a successful person was anyone with a goal”. – this really, really hit me.

Like a trillion other souls, I too have stood in the mirror of life questioning my own success. I’ve put my efforts into many ideas over the years and Poplar Magazine is no different. Since I can recall, I’ve always been working on something, or towards it. Interestingly, almost every idea I’ve put effort into has come at the expense of discouragement and oftentimes, even ridicule. Almost everything I have set goals towards achieving, I have accomplished in one fashion or another – it hasn’t always been pretty.

When I set out to be a stand-up comedian after being dismissed from my final year of high school just six weeks after my brother’s suicide, I was mocked. People said it couldn’t be done. I was told flat out, I wasn’t funny and I would never make it. I wasn’t eighteen and I was working every amateur night stage in Winnipeg that I could, to the chagrin of every club owner and veteran comic at the time. I kept working. I kept finding stages where I could continue to find my voice and little did I know that this particular search would span my entire life to date. Soon enough I was opening for headliners who’d take me on the road with them. Before long, I was playing clubs in places like Calgary and touring western Canada. Then the goal shifted. I no longer wanted to be independent, I wanted to work for Yuk Yuks. Soon enough, I did that too. That wasn’t enough. I wanted to leave Winnipeg, next thing you know I have an apartment overlooking the water in English Bay. The goals just kept coming into my heart and mind and I kept checking boxes. From opening act to headliner. From regional comic to national act. Then Just for Laughs called (two times actually), I was running out of goals to achieve in Canada but the bottom line to my message is simple. Set the goal and set your watch.

A long time ago, the idea of a magazine came to me. The world is full of magazines and as my career path took me from committed writer to published columnist my hope was I would find more opportunities in my current community. That was not to be and as someone who hasn’t waited long for anyone’s approval, my heart knew that a publication of my own was inevitable. Poplar was born. And believe me friends, this hasn’t come without its challenges and criticisms but truth be told, I couldn’t care less. I’ve built a life on the back of my own willingness to be wrong and to fail because I learned a long time ago that failure is merely a needed lesson on the pathway to your entire life’s resume of accomplishment. I have been to the brink of my own disaster more than once. Metaphorically living in the fear of the forth loss without a win to back up my confidence…and I’ve come back to win in seven. I know what it’s like to be left on the proverbial ice float in life. After my brother’s demise, many back home said I was ruined. They said I couldn’t have any sort of life after what I saw. Some even still say it when they find out. People can be cruel and terrible and that is just one of the reasons I created this magazine.

We’ve covered a lot of ground in our first four issues, and I owe my appreciation entirely to you, the readers who’ve touched my heart with your words, your follows and ultimately – your support. Thank you. When I set forward on this path I recall doing some quick math. I thought, “4.3 million Albertans. If we got half of a percent of them to look at Poplar, I’d be happy with that”. Well, as I proudly share this letter with you, we’ve passed 35k in our readership. 43k will be 1% of our province.

Finally, the contributors. The Poplar Peeps. Some have been here from the start; others have popped into Poplar for a shorter visit – I appreciate you all so very much. Because of you, because of each and every one of you, Poplar Magazine is real. Thank you to Joyce Diane Wall (The Chair) Nick Carter (The Naturalist) Evan Buchanan (Photo Technical) Nick Olexyn (Fishing Alberta) True Masur (True Mountaineer) Mandi Fusaro (Hiking to Heal) Avery Bird (Young Bones) and Terry Olexyn (The Future). Each of you has brought something very special to Poplar, you’ve brought yourself and that has made all the difference.

One last mention: Those who know will appreciate why I left her to the end. Deanna. From the start, you’ve supported me. You’ve overcome significant obstacles to produce your columns. Not just your own fear to write the column itself but the fact that back when we produced our first issue, you we’re just then beginning to learn how to live life post cancer treatment with a relentless neuropathy that ironically has taken your ability to feel anything with your hands.

The entirety of Poplar Magazine’s team is the heartbeat of this magazine. Please read this one year anniversary issue with that in mind and when you share, like, follow or tell a friend about Poplar, you’re not sharing just any magazine. You’re sharing a collection of souls who all have their own story and their own reason for being here. And you’re also sharing my sincere appreciation for all of them being a part of my life and my goal to produce this beautiful magazine.

Thank you,

Tim Lowing