MYf0RWARDl IFE
4 WORD
When I was in 4th grade, I
received the devastating
news that I needed
glasses. This news came as
a blow because I was already an awkwardly tall kid who loved school a little bit too much and had been labeled a "nerd" by many of my classmates. And I guess they were
right. I was a voracious
reader for as long as I could remember. I loved teachers and school so much that I begged my dad to let me start school earl y- and he did. Yes, I was that kid in your classroom that asked if we were going to receive any homework that night. My dad and I went on a mission to find eyeglasses that w ere "cooL" After a couple of hours, I scored a pair of bright red glasses, a la famed t alk show host Sally Jessy Raphael. When I put the glasses on, I fel t' had rea ched supermodel status. The minute I stepped foot into school, though, I was rid iculed. Repeated ly. It was so bad that I just stopped wearin g them despite not being able to see the chalkboard dearly. My grades began to suffer so my dad sat me down f or a father/daughter chat. I explained t o him how the glasses had ruined my life and no one would ever want to hang out w ith me again (I was dramatic even back then!). My dad said, "Jasmin, you are different. You always have been and you always will be. There are going to be a lot of times when you don't fit in and that's ok because you' re not supposed to. There are those people that have the courage to be who they are despite w hat others think. How you choose to live your life is nobody's business but yours." My dad is no longer here, but his words live on and comfort me daily. His sage advice is the rea son w hy this next and final My Forward life event f or 2013 is aptly called "The Style of Life." I believe that personal style is developed over time with all of the experiences of your life. It's not about your hair, the purse you car ry, or in my case, the glasses you w ear. It's w ho you are as a mom, sister, friend, co-worker, aunt, grandmother, girlfriend, wife-you get my point. Your life; all of the highs and lows and ups and downs is what determines you r style. For this next event, we're hosting an elite panel of ent repreneurs who will sha re their definiti on of style and how it's influenced their careers. Taking place at The Space from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m ., our chic soiree will feature pop-up shops by Kate Somerville, Mockingbird Station, W indsor Luxu ry Apartments, and Urban Taco. We really want you to think about st yle from many angles that even ing. And if you' re looking f or a chance at romance, My Forward Life will hook you up through our philanthropic partner, Love Cures All, as they share details about t heir upcoming Charity Date Auction at Hotel ZaZa.
JASMIN BRAND Publisher, FORWARD Magazine
MYf0RWARDl IFE