Monthly Columnists

Dear reader...

February is here, and love is in the air. In recognition of this romantic time, we celebrate love with our annual bridal issue.

Want to know about this year’s wedding trends? We’ve got you covered with the latest in favors, rehearsal dinner suggestions and advice on how to ensure your day remains special during a pandemic.

New love is celebrated in profiles of local couples who were undeterred by the challenges of the coronavirus and instead tied the knot while embracing the unprecedented circumstances.

TO DEFEND AGAINST EMERGING THREATS

When we decided to move permanently from Switzerland to the U.S. in 1991, I viewed the country as one of the safest places on earth. It produced enough food to feed its population without having to rely on imports and it had a superior military power to dwarf any attacks from adversaries. 

Three decades later my view has been altered, and I’m concerned about three different type of threats, none of which can be countered with conventional defense capabilities. 

Dear reader

The Lowcountry is full of intriguing people from all walks of life that make our community unique.

Our annual Intriguing People of the Lowcountry issue celebrates who we are and showcases the compelling backgrounds of our neighbors.

You may know some of the people featured, but we promise you’ll learn things about them you didn’t know.

In troubled times, when uncertainty reigns supreme, despair or exhaustion sets in, or we simply feel overwhelmed with all the world throws at us, it helps to look for a signal, like the beam from a lighthouse that helps to guide sailors from the dark of night into safe harbor.

It is upon us to open our hearts and minds in order to find that signal. There is no absolute formula of how to find it, or how it finds you.

It can be something simple, like discovering that planting a hope garden has a soothing effect on your mind; re-discovering a passion for reading a good book; reaching out to a friend or stranger and receiving some advice; or something more ambitious, like learning a new skill via an online class; or making some grand plans for when the pandemic is under control. 

Dear reader

The holiday season is a time to give, to cherish our loved ones and appreciate those who have enriched our lives. It is truly the most wonderful time of the year, and we are grateful you are spending some of your valuable time with us. 

The joy of giving is always more gratifying than receiving. So many organizations stepped up when they were needed most during this trying year, like the tireless work of the Long Cove Fund or the Watterson Family Foundation, driven by its passion to make a difference. 

I anticipate that historians will divide time as pre-COVID and post-COVID, even if it might not change the Gregorian calendar like B.C. (Before Christ) and A.D. (Anno Domini).

The world was about to change anyway, but the pandemic will serve as a trigger point to accelerate transformations and alter how we think and act from this point forward. Here is my prediction on how 10 big concepts will alter everything:

Dear Reader

Thanksgiving offers us an opportunity to reflect. This has been a trying year, one filled with unexpected challenges that we have endured together.

The Monthly team is grateful for our business partners and loyal readers.

We don’t take for granted our responsibility as the “Voice of the Lowcountry,” and we are thankful we can share the area’s most compelling stories with you.

I venture to say that unlocking the power of women would make for a better world.

It’s been 100 years since the amendment to the U.S. Constitution that gave women the right to vote was ratified. South Carolina originally voted to reject the amendment in 1920, before finally ratifying it on July 1, 1969. 

Dear Reader 

The cool autumn air is here but unfortunately this year we will miss out on many fall festivals. But there are plenty of Lowcountry stories to talk about. 

As we continue to recognize our 35^th anniversary, we also celebrate those who have made a difference in our area for decades.  

This month, we are all revved up to highlight some of the area’s classic car collectors and spotlight people making an impact in our communities.

We also feature the Lowcountry’s Leading Men with stories that showcase the hard work and ingenuity that helps them succeed. 

A PIVOTAL POINT

The year 2020 will be remembered as a pivotal point in American history. 

Looking back at this moment we will understand how a culmination of events has changed our behavior and perception of reality and influenced the future in a profound manner, similar in significance to America entering World War II, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the opening of China relations or the 9/11 attack. 

Dear Reader

It is a time of celebration and change at Monthly magazine. We are excited to celebrate our 35th anniversary, and this month we introduce a new look.

As we constantly strive to give our readers a fresh perspective on the happenings in the Lowcountry, we offer a crisp and striking redesign that is refined and visually engaging.

This has been a very muted Fourth of July celebration.

Stopped in our regular routine by the coronavirus outbreak, shaken by the death of George Floyd, stirred by the hatred and division we are displaying as a nation, we deep down start realizing that the “American Promise” has been derailed.