I didn’t plan to disappear.
At least, not in the way it happened. When I hired Lisa Player (I miss her already!) as editor, it was so that I could quit spreading myself too thin and so I could focus on being publisher — the person quietly behind the scenes setting the goals and steering Bella forward.
But then, life happened, and I stepped back. Not gone, exactly, but pulled away enough that it felt like I had stepped out of the room.
Life has a way of doing that. One minute you’re juggling responsibilities with confidence, and the next you’re realizing that something has to give. For me, that something was visibility. I kept the wheels turning where I could, but I wasn’t present in the way I expect of myself — and in the way this role deserves. I was doing what had to be done to keep myself going and that was all that I could handle for quite a while.
But now, let me say this plainly: I’m back.
Not in a dramatic, trumpets-blaring way. Just grounded, refocused and ready to move forward. Sometimes stepping away, even unintentionally, sharpens your perspective. Distance has a way of revealing what matters most and what was simply noise. I also still have many ups and downs and am just trying to do the best I can. I’ve learned not to beat myself up, though that can be an ongoing challenge.
Being an editor and a publisher isn’t just about correcting grammar or trimming copy. It’s about stewardship. It’s about holding space for other people’s voices while knowing when to step in and when to step back. It’s about responsibility — to readers, to writers and to the larger community we serve. Being away reminded me how much that responsibility means to me.
The timing feels fitting. A new year has a way of inviting reflection, whether we ask for it or not. January always arrives with a quiet insistence: Look back. Take stock. Decide what comes next.
I’ve never been particularly interested in grand resolutions. Life is too unpredictable for rigid promises. What I do believe in is intention. Small, thoughtful course corrections that add up over time. This year, my intention is simple: to be present.
Presence looks like answering the email instead of flagging it for later. It looks like checking in, not just checking off. It looks like listening more closely — to pitches, to feedback, to the subtle shifts happening around us.
A new year also brings new opportunity, especially in storytelling. There are voices that haven’t been heard enough. Stories that deserve more space than they’ve been given. Perspectives that challenge, inform and maybe even make us a little uncomfortable — in the best way. I want this publication to continue leaning into that.
Looking ahead, I’m excited about what we can build. Not just in terms of content, but in connection. Community isn’t something that happens automatically; it’s cultivated. It requires consistency and care. It requires showing up, even when it’s easier not to.
If my “absence” taught me anything, it’s that showing up matters. Even imperfectly. Even quietly. Especially when things feel uncertain. Being there matters much more than being perfectly made up.
I also want to acknowledge the grace extended during my difficult times. That grace matters more than people realize. It’s easy to measure productivity and output; it’s harder — and more important — to recognize humanity. I don’t take that lightly.
As we move forward, I hope this year feels less about pressure and more about possibility. Less about keeping up and more about moving with purpose. There is room to try new things, to rethink old habits and to allow ourselves to grow without demanding perfection.
And — drumroll, please! — we are entering Bella’s 20th year!! Twenty years of supporting the women of Pensacola and sharing their many inspiring stories. I am so excited and proud of this accomplishment and I’m proud of the entire Bella team who are the reason we are still here.
Thank you for staying, for reading and for trusting this space. I’m here, looking ahead, ready to do the work.
Keep an eye out for the many ways we intend to celebrate our 20 years of being beautiful, sassy and smart!
— Kelly MacLeod
