A WORD FROM THE EDITOR

Sitting down to write the editor’s note is always an interesting process for me. In most publications the editor’s note is a chance for editor’s to share their thoughts on the publication or life in general. It’s a lovely notion, but as the primary writer behind most of Butter’s content, I can’t help but feel that this site may already have too many of my thoughts.

Yet, here I am once again, sharing my thoughts. It’s nice to write outside an article or Instagram post. No need to condense for efficiency, no algorithm to appease, just you and me.

Right now my thoughts are all Butter Mag and not just because it’s less than a week until the next issue when I’m writing this. For the last six months I’ve been living in Japan as an exchange student. I go to a full schedule of classes and do my best to navigate my courses entirely in Japanese. Or at least I did. Finals were over the first week of February and now I’m on break until April. Yes, April. It’s just as wonderful as it sounds.

However, as those who know me can attest, I’m not the type of person who does well sitting around doing nothing. I’m either busying myself with one of my projects, or asleep. Knowing this, it’s probably not a shock that I’ve spent a least a portion of every day since classes ended to work on Butter. It’s been a blast. And no, not sarcasm.

See, this past month is the first time since I started Butter that I haven’t been working full-time, moving countries, or enrolled in classes. It’s the first time I’ve been able to give my whole attention to Butter Mag, and it’s great. I’ve been able to look beyond the essential to-do’s (writing articles), and take steps toward my longer term goals for Butter Mag.

Butter Mag finally feels sustainable. I’d be lying if I said balancing those obligations while working on Butter Mag wasn’t stressful. Now, it could be because I have a year of experience under my belt, but multiple folks have noted how much less stressed I sound going into this issue of Butter, and it’s because I am.

Butter is my baby and I love it dearly, but there have been moments where I’ve had to ask myself if I can uphold my standards without sacrificing too much of my mental health. This last month has proven to me that it’s absolutely possible and that makes me excited.

On that note, thank you to all the athletes who took the time to work with me this issue and trusted me to tell your stories. It was such a pleasure to get to know you and I hope to meet you all in person someday.

Thank you to my editor Emma who took the time to work on all these articles while in the middle of planning her wedding. You are absolutely nuts and I love you for it.

And thank you to anyone who’s read an article on this site. I hope its brought you some level of inspiration or joy.

As always, take care and have fun out there!

Alex.

ALEX FIG is the founder of Butter Mag, an online magazine that strives to highlight women and queer folks that you're reading right now. A casual outdoorist, she enjoys climbing, surfing, skiing, and skateboarding during her reading breaks.

ALEX FIG is the founder of Butter Mag, an online magazine that strives to highlight women and queer folks that you're reading right now. A casual outdoorist, she enjoys climbing, surfing, skiing, and skateboarding during her reading breaks.

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