Be Bella

Ladonna Armstrong

October 6, 2020

Publisher’s Letter From Your Fearless Leader

“If ever there is a tomorrow when we’re not together, there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart, I’ll always be with you.”

A. A. Milne

It is Fall Y’all! The air is crisp and the leaves are beginning to change. The colorful pallet across the earth sparks vibes of creativity and stirs my soul. Inspiration appears in the pumpkins adorning doorways and leaves gently falling from the trees. This month’s issue is all about creativity.

We have been joyfully getting creative with ideas as we mold and grow our Bella. After all “The Change” in last month’s issue, we are deepening our roots to prepare for our future growth. These are exciting times!

Bella Magazine has been a tradition in the Aiken community for decades as it sought to bring the community together through local history, arts, culture, humor, stories, projects, events, engagements, and valuable information useful to those who live near us. With the world continually growing and changing, and with all of the negative messages that seem to press on all of us daily, the Bella Magazine team has resolved to focus increasingly on helping people find the positive lining in even the hardest of times.

Our goal is to be your resource for health, fitness, friendships, relationships, events, and more, as we struggle and celebrate together. We are focusing on how we can all collectively be better — Be Bella.

We are excited to add many new creative voices to Bella this month. Heading up our online content is our new Digital Director Julie Keating. She is the Cruise Director on the Love Boat of relationship advice. Find her article “An Impossible Mission: Getting a Narcissist to Chase You” online, along with many others chock full of creative ways to evaluate your relationships.

For a creative way of getting outside for some health and wellness, walk through the labyrinth at Hopelands Gardens here in Aiken. We welcome new writer Julie A. Starr to the Bella family. Find out more about labyrinths in her article “Finding Peace and Harmony on the Labyrinth.” I happened upon a labyrinth on an out of town excursion and found myself feeling like a little girl again as I journeyed in and back out again. I have learned to celebrate my youthful moments and cherish the memories.

You must take a peek at another new writer, Zach McCabe of All.Equal.Parts, as he gets creative with mixology in our new Lux Libations column. The Apple Bondage is a delicious sipping concoction that warms your insides and feels like drinking autumn. Look for weekly articles online from Zach as he stretches the boundaries of mixology.

More creative changes will be implemented in the coming months! Online content, new writers, YouTube channel, and podcasting — OH MY! We, collectively, promise to remain eternally positive, to believe in you when you might not believe in yourself, and to let you know that we are always and forever in this together. Bella Magazine wants to be your inspiration to transform and transcend difficult life circumstances to be the healthiest you possible. If you are ready to Be Bella, please join our attempt to be the best we can possibly be. #bebetterbebella

Ladonna Armstrong

Publisher of Aiken Bella Magazine.

Ladonna Armstrong

Publisher of Aiken Bella Magazine.

In the know

Letter From The Editor | These Boots Are Made For Walkin’

“These boots are made for walkin’” Lee Hazlewood, as recorded by Nancy Sinatra I try not to offend anyone. Doesn’t make me feel good, and I’m certain it doesn’t make the other person feel good, so I see no value in it. But Ladonna is, for some reason, offended by my little black boots. The feeling is not mutual — they have never offered any opinion of Ladonna whatsoever. But she has had it in for my boots for well over a year. Ladonna: You need some new boots. me: Why? These are fine. Ladonna: Because you should have several pairs of nice boots. me: I only have one pair

Be Conscientious

“Infuse your life with action. Don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen … yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.” ~ Bradley Whitford April is the “Action” Issue. It is a little bittersweet for many, as we normally celebrate sports and sporting events in the spring. The weather is warmer, the flowers are in bloom — beauty is unfolding itself everywhere we turn. The outdoors beckons

Make Your Own Luck

Learn to B-Positive Have you ever wondered whether some folks are just flat-out lucky? Perhaps there are some who are wired differently? Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t — you’re right.” The following is a great example of this quote. One of my Sunday school buds told our class a story I will never forget. As a 17-year-old, Nicky entered Boot Camp. He said that he was petrified and had a sinking feeling of failure. He dropped to his knees and prayed, “Lord, I need help. Please send me a sign to help me survive Basic Training.” With bowed head, Nicky’s eyes

More Power To Your Elbows

It’s more British than American. And it likely originated as a toast. The phrase “more power to your elbows” meant you lifted your comrades up to continued good fortune, with many more celebrations to come (so their elbows would therefore be bent in many more celebratory toasts). But now, “more power to your elbows” is most often just said in recognition of a thing well done, with hope for even more successes. A sort of quirky wish for “good luck.” I am quite smitten with the phrase. But when it comes to traditions of good luck, I suspect most of us are more familiar with the “bending of our elbows”