Polishing our lives together...
The realities of an indie press...
Your dollars at work... Ways you can help…

Dear Friend,

Polishing our lives together...

Running a magazine from our home provides an endless well of inspiration — along with its fair share of challenges. Following a beckoning child to help her to slice sandwich bread or to referee a toy dispute while talking to a business associate via my headset, is a skill I'm still refining. But, a moment later, seeing my kids gallop joyously past my office window lends lightness to my day. Having the work I love and the people I love together in the same space is magical in a way that no inconvenience can diminish.

This homespun tapestry of "work" and "living" brings thoughts of community to mind. Today, reading articles for upcoming issues, I note afresh that our writers hail from across the country. We chose to print their articles because these writers share our belief that positive change begins one small step at a time and that storytelling is a great way to inspire transformation. Their backgrounds and stages in life may differ, yet each story could have been my own story — or perhaps yours. It never ceases to amaze me how similar our experiences are at root, regardless of the differences in detail. Over time, our connections deepen and a sense of community builds. So now, cocooned by my immediate family and inspired by our team of writers and staff, I've finally found a quiet moment to write to you — our extended community.

I feel a connection to you, no matter the distance. I have a collection of notes that you've penned on the backs of renewal letters and typed spontaneously into e-mails that arrive at the oddest of hours; your encouraging words weave their way into the fabric of our work. Of course, a few have wondered about an ordinary person making statements about the world. But who better than each and every one of us — feet firmly planted in the day-to-day — to see simple solutions that "experts" may overlook? Some have also questioned our choice to create a natural-looking, hand-illustrated publication and still dare to call it a magazine. But most readers are inspired that ordinary folks do dare to break out of the box. They appreciate the grace of our handcrafted presentation and the way we distill simple choices from complex issues — ideas that they can use to make a difference in their daily lives. Their encouragement lifts my enthusiasm even higher.

"I look forward to receiving The Polishing Stone. To me, it is inspiring, encouraging, rewarding. Thank you for ‘taking the leap'... The next issue seems to arrive just when I need it." — D.B., Arlington, TX

There is tremendous power in everyday decisions. I can't thank you enough for your choice to support the spirit of this magazine. Your subscription and your gifts of The Polishing Stone to family and friends expand our circle of readers and inspire us to keep going. We couldn't produce another issue of the magazine without each one of you — a fact that we appreciate, consciously, every day. The combined impact of our "small steps" enhances the quality of our world.

The realities of an indie press...

Crazy as it sounds though, subscription and newsstand revenues simply don't cover the costs of producing an ad-free, independent magazine. Our favorite indie publications walk in the same shoes, even those that chose to carry advertising. None of us could keep doing what we do — connecting, informing and inspiring — without the additional financial support of donations from readers such as you, along with the infrequent grant that may be available. (In reality, most other nonprofits have a better chance of receiving grant assistance than magazines do.)

"You put out such a little gem of a magazine! It's my mealtime reading. I need to know the grim truths but most of the stuff [out there] is too painful to digest with food. I really appreciate the flavor of The Polishing Stone. — J.W., Stoneham, ME

Your dollars at work...

And so, I'm writing today to invite you to extend your support by becoming a Friend of The Polishing Stone — taking one more small step with us — with a tax-deductible contribution. Your dollars do make a difference.

Your support not only keeps the presses running, but it also allows us to reach out to others who have been looking for ways to enhance their quality of life. We are excited about working on a new program to expand our educational outreach and share earth-friendly tips through public radio and community newspapers. We also look forward to developing programs to present young people — our current joy and future strength — with opportunities to explore healthy living practices. And for our magazine, we continue to fund investigative series on topics such as alternative energy with an eye toward simple-step solutions.

You also make it possible for us to continue to print our magazine on a blend of tree-free kenaf and recycled fibers: helping our country to shift paper production away from virgin wood pulp. As a print publisher, helping to protect our forests is always on my mind. Together we send out ripples in the pond — and inspire more permanent waves...

In addition, your support allows us to remain a safe-haven from the bombardment of consumer advertising. We've had many letters of thanks for this, and I hope you, too, find a bit of peace in our pages — a place to relax and take your time making choices about the changes you'd like to make. We are committed to remaining uncluttered and uncompromised. But, as an ad-free magazine, we face additional financial challenges that commercial magazines do not.

The Polishing Stone is published through the work of a close-knit community of family, friends and volunteers. Our writers are driven by their passion for the subject matter; clearly, it's not from the modest compensation we are able to offer. And we couldn't survive without our cherished volunteers and their gifts of time, energy and good will, whether they are writing, illustrating, transporting magazines to and from various locations, or gathering for an impromptu bulk-mailing party. Some folks ask when we'll build a "real" office. I hesitate to say "never" — but I hope so. To me, "real" is about keeping my life whole, rather than divided into compartments. Rest assured that your donation will go a long way toward lending wings to our work.

Ways you can help...

It's this kind of community spirit that infuses the independent press with life. Won't you extend your support and join the Friends of The Polishing Stone, with your tax-deductible contribution? Any amount is welcome, and there are many ways to contribute: making a one-time check or credit-card donation, or amplifying your donation through your employer matching-funds program, or perhaps by inviting friends to join you in supporting our work.

You might even consider pledging a regular monthly or quarterly donation. Often, contributing a little bit each month is easier on your budget, and it definitely makes a tremendous difference to us.

Thank you again for your generous support. Your subscription and donations make it possible for us to keep sharing practical steps towards a healthier life and world. We couldn't do it without you.

All my best,


Publisher

If we listened to our intellect, we'd never have a love affair. We'd never have a friendship. We'd never go into business, because we'd be too cynical. Well, that's nonsense. You've got to jump off cliffs all the time and build your wings on the way down. — Annie Dillard

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