Aryn Henning Nichols

There is beauty in the world, even when it feels so dark we can’t possibly see it.

Radical inspiration – our theme for this issue – is about lighting a spark to shine in the darkness.

We are approaching two decades in business at Inspire(d). When we first began, I leaned into certain “tion” words to define our mission. Inspiration. Motivation. Education. Dedication. When I was brainstorming themes for 2026, I wanted to double-down on our mission, refining each word to better reflect what we’re facing as a society right now. Radical Inspiration kicks it all off.

In general conversation, radical often means drastic or revolutionary. Slangily, it can mean cool or awesome. In math, it points to the root of something. And in botany, radical means new growth stemming directly from the root system. 

That’s how I’m thinking about our themes for 2026. New growth, stemming from our roots. 

We dive into Radical Inspiration in my infographic on page 37, and then further in Olivia Lynn Schnur’s mental health piece. Our hope is that you feel a tiny (or big) spark inside you to help create light in the world this spring.

The stunning cover of this Spring Inspire(d) is filled with light, and created by one of my besties, Jen Opheim. She knows that, sometimes, when there is a big shift in life, new beauty is revealed.

Our community builders remind us that connection is a big part of inspiration. The crew at River Clean Up in La Crosse works together to make the Mississippi a cleaner place, one weekend at a time. Melodie Betts, in Fennimore, Wisconsin, opened The Lemon Door cafe to create a warm, welcoming space that visitors and residents alike could enjoy with ease. And finally, a group of Wisconsin residents went to North Carolina with Bethany Free Church, working under Samaritan’s Purse, to literally help build a community back up after Hurricane Helene devastated the area in late 2024.

Read about South Bear School’s long history of creating community and supporting others, and learn about their upcoming summer pottery workshop and celebrations of 50 years in its current location, like the Gays and Faes music festival May 29-31, 2026. Speaking of, Inspire(d)’s spring Paper Project, a fun egg-carton Flower Chain, was a collaboration with the organizer of Gays and Faes! 

Sometimes, radical inspiration is a feeling of home, even when you’re not home. The spring Future Focused submissions explore this idea.

I laughed out loud one minute and then nodded my head in sage agreement the next when I read this issue’s Sum of Your Business Q&A with sisters Erica Thilges and Monica Thilges from New Generations of Harmony and Stardust Retro Revival. The “sister malls” make Harmony a real antiques destination, and we love a hunt for a good find!

If you’re looking for some delight, I suggest you immediately read Craig Thompson’s conservation piece about frogs. The words are utter loveliness and conjure up the magic that is a spring night when the frogs start singing.

Indeed, there is radical inspiration all over in nature. Marge Loch-Wouters is back with some tips to help make your spring hike extra inspiring (and she includes a great list of places to check out)!

We round out the issue with a great probit Q&A with long-time Decorah community member Georgie Klevar. What an inspiring woman! 

(P.S. If you’d like to interview your neighbor, grandparent, parent, friend, etc., please reach out! We love these Q&As!)

Here’s to finding some Radical Inspiration this spring, friends!

Looking forward,

Aryn Henning Nichols

In this issue, you’ll find:

Radical Inspiration: Lighting a Spark in the Darkness. Artist Jen Opheim • Community Builders – River Clean Up / La Crosse – Melodie Betts / Fennimore – Bethany Free Church • Finding Radical Inspiration • Mental Health – Radical Inspiration for Change • South Bear School – Local Legacy • Paper Project: Flower Chains • Future Focused: What feels like home? • Sum Biz: New Generations of Harmony & Stardust Retro Revival • Conservation: Frogs • Spring Hiking • Probit: Georgie Klevar • And More!

Read the whole thing online here:

Listen to our spring playlist while you read!

Listen to the Spotify playlist that Aryn put together while making this issue! Radical Inspiration: Lighting a spark in the darkness! <3

Support the Positive News Movement: Become a Member of Inspire(d)!

Stepping into a place that I can be transported,  

To a new world,

In all different types of books,

Tables and chairs glistening in the blinding sunlight, 

Books with all interesting topics waiting on the shelves,

Inhaling the strong fragrance of hand sanitizer, 

The light scent of books,

Gentle whispers echo through the building,

The sound of parents shushing their children,

Books being thoughtfully placed back onto the shelves,

Sitting in a comfortable chair to start a new book,

Flipping through the delicate pages,

The library taught me boredom,

Time spent there with nothing to do,

Looking through all of the shelves,

Waiting,

The thought of sitting in silence doesn’t seem entertaining,

But it gets me to pause,

To think about everything around me,

To realize that I don’t have to be at home

To feel at home.

We created Future Focused, a new Inspire(d) column written by pre-teens and teens, to help give the next generation an opportunity to share their voices. Partnering with Dana Hogan, the Extended Learning Program teacher at Decorah Middle School, we offered prompts around the question, “What feels like home?” Students submitted some really great work, and five were chosen for this Inspire(d). You can read all the Future Focused pieces published so far at iloveinspired.com/category/future-focused. Here’s to Listening to the Next Generation! – Aryn

A place where Iowa’s cornfields meet the bluffs,

And ancient rock remembers glacial scuffs,

Lies the town of Decorah, a place of greens and golds,

Where stories are whispered, centuries old.

A place where Dunning’s Spring spills a cold cascade,

And where lush trees provide both fun and shade,

Trout Run Creek winds, a ribbon bright and clear,

And where anglers seek solace, year after year.

So breathe the air where Norwegian ghosts reside,

And feel the breath of this dear countryside,

Decorah, a place where history meets the green,

A small town beauty, truly serene,

The towering bluffs now shiftless,

That’s the hidden gem of the Driftless.

We created Future Focused, a new Inspire(d) column written by pre-teens and teens, to help give the next generation an opportunity to share their voices. Partnering with Dana Hogan, the Extended Learning Program teacher at Decorah Middle School, we offered prompts around the question, “What feels like home?” Students submitted some really great work, and five were chosen for this Inspire(d). You can read all the Future Focused pieces published so far at iloveinspired.com/category/future-focused. Here’s to Listening to the Next Generation! – Aryn