Summer 2025 Inspire(d) Editors Letter

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Abundance is a funny word. It’s one of those things you don’t think about… until you think about it. What does “feeling abundant” even MEAN?!? For me, abundance is making time for the things that bring me joy. My coffee ritual in the morning. Getting my favorite grain bowl from Blazing Star (Dilly Beet forever!). Walking and talking with my besties. 

I dive into our theme, “What Makes You Feel Abundant? Finding Joy in the Little Things,” with my infographic on page 45 (where you can see the rest of my current abundance list). I hope you start thinking about your own abundance list next as you read Olivia Lynn Schnur’s Mental Health article about Cultivating an Abundant Life. 

La Crosse artist Pete Sandker, who created this summer’s cover art, absolutely fills his work with abundant colors, flowers, animals, and movement. I love how each piece seems to hold special little secrets when you look closer.

A funny, small-town thing happened in this issue: our writer from Lanesboro, Steve Harris, wrote about Community Builders Phil and Heidi Dybing… and then you’ll see Heidi quoted in Laura Barlament’s story about the Stringwood Chamber Music Festival pages later in the magazine. I had no idea Heidi was going to be a source for two articles in this issue, but it goes to show how important community builders are to the vitality of a place!

Folks who know me know I love to read. Perhaps that should be written I LOVE TO READ! Climbing into bed with my book is perhaps my favorite time of day. So, I was excited that our second Community Builder features Mary Mulvaney-Kemp, founder of Vernon County Wisconsin’s RedLou Library. Anyone who is passionate about helping other people love to read is the bee’s knees in my book (ha, pun!).

I love to learn, as well, and was stoked to have Luther student (now graduate!) Clara Wodny work on a fun, educational piece about the Decorah Impact Crater and Pentecopterus decorahensis. She even created illustrations to go with it!

From our middle school Future Focused student contributors, we got some truly delightful submissions about what makes them feel abundant. Their teacher, Dana Hogan, prompted many of them to write about a metaphorical “Abundance Jar.”  The result was so inspiring, I decided to expand the section to include five students. AND…their writings inspired the summer Paper Project: Make your own Abundance Jar! I put together a template and some prompts to make it even easier.

What could be more abundant than a cake party? How about a cake party with 30 cakes?! Thanks to my neighbor, Kendra, for the pitch about Wendy and Jim Stevens’ 37-year tradition of hosting a massive cake party each year on their property near Decorah, and to writer Renee Brincks for putting the Cake Party Magic into such a lovely piece (ha, now a cake pun).

And I seriously love the Sum of Your Business interview this summer, featuring our friends at Sogo Snacks, Dan Bellrichard and Liza Hicken. Dan took time out of his schedule to answer our Q&A, and his insightful replies really hit home for me.

Finally, I think for the first time ever, the probituary interview is a surprise! Calvin Anderson’s daughter, Jennifer Anderson Warwick casually slipped in questions during regular conversations to put together the last page Q&A this summer. How fun!

I hope this issue inspires you to find new ways to create – and recognize – abundance around you this summer, friends. Cheers to a season filled with magic!

Looking forward,

Aryn Henning Nichols

In this issue, you’ll find:

What Makes You Feel Abundant? Finding Joy in the Little Things. Artist Pete Sandker • Community Builders – Phil and Heidi Dybing / Lanesboro – Mary Mulvaney-Kemp / Viroqua • Decorah History, Deep Time Edition • Mental Health: Abundance • Cake Party Magic • Paper Project: Abundance Jar! • Stringwood • Sum Biz: Sogo Snacks • Probit: Calvin Anderson • And More!

Read the whole thing online here:

Listen to our summer playlist while you read!

Tap into the vibes we were trying to create with the Summer 2025 Inspire(d) Magazine. What Makes You Feel Abundant? Let’s find joy in the little things, friends! <3

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