We're Better Together!

Straight Talk from our Community Compass
June 2026

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MYRNA: May already seems like a flash in time. We celebrated 10 years of empowering and inspiring women. (Readers can find photos from our special event and a video montage filled with exciting moments from the past ten years.) Then, my husband and I ditched work and flew to Perdido Key for much needed R&R (see Myrna’s Musings). Of course, with Mother’s Day Weekend and Memorial Weekend popping up on the calendar as well, the days and hours flew by like a New York City subway train. As June sets in, I’m imagining things might slow down just a bit, finding room to launch our first round of VIP Club members and to plan a virtual screening and talkback of the documentary Your Roots Are Showing. Wishing all of our readers a happy and healthy summer season! 

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CAROL: Please allow me a proud Grandma moment to share news of my grandson, Evan. A rising junior at the University of New Hampshire who wants to attend medical school, he has received both his state and national EMS certifications and will spend this summer assisting the crew and driving an ambulance in Durham. I hope you don't need his services; but if you do, know you'll be in competent and caring hands.

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SANDRA: ​On a rainy Memorial Day Weekend in New York, we had good friends in from San Francisco staying in town. We managed to have a grand time despite the weather. Our first night featured Birdland (starring master of the keyboard Bill Charlap) — see my write-up in Out & About. We saw The Balusters on Broadway, a raucous comedy with Richard Thomas at the helm, and a lovely film called My Silent Friend. The friend was a ginkgo tree, observing the changing lives and perceptions of three different protagonists. We took the train to Hyde Park and ate ourselves silly at the Culinary Institute of America’s Ristorante Caterina de’ Medici in a gorgeous Tuscan-style villa.  When the sun came out again on Monday, I felt like bursting into song!

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LAURA: Recently, I joined fellow food industry leaders at the Menus of Change Leadership Summit at the Culinary Institute of America to discuss an important topic: resilience. The conversation centered on the future of restaurants and food businesses, but many of the themes apply far beyond our industry. As I reflected on nearly 25 years of building Gigi Hudson Valley, I realized that resilience is rarely a solo endeavor. It comes from community — relationships, mentorship, collaboration, and a willingness to keep learning. It comes from showing up day after day, solving problems, adjusting course when necessary, and continuing forward. Resilience is less about perfection and more about persistence. It is the quiet confidence that comes from knowing you can adapt, learn, and grow through whatever comes next. When we embrace community, we are reminded that while challenges may be individual, resilience is often built together. Sign up for Gigi e-news.

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DEBORA: For three years, he [Debora's cat] was part of our family — the quiet companion curled beside us, the familiar comfort woven into everyday life. But loving him came with heartbreak as my husband grew increasingly ill from allergies, struggling to breathe comfortably in our home. Rehoming him felt like grief mixed with guilt. Packing his toys and hearing the silence afterward left an ache I still feel. Yet seeing him welcomed into a loving new home brought peace alongside the sadness. We lost his daily presence, but gained back health, rest and balance. Sometimes love means letting go, even when your heart wishes you could hold on. Find my website.

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CARLA: It’s so easy to get caught up in what I call “the voice of toxic comparison.” This inner voice — often worsened by social media — can make us feel like we’re not being or doing enough. In fact, this voice often makes us believe that we’re not enough (fill in the blank: not successful enough, smart enough, thin enough, fit enough, young enough, attractive enough, and so on). And if we don’t “talk back” to this voice, it can easily take over. I’ve found that this unhelpful voice can be quelled when we simply notice it and respond with a gentle, "I’m on my own journey. I’m not interested in comparing myself to anyone or anything else. I love who I am and who I am becoming." Contact me.  

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​TEGAN: I was honored to photograph Sanctuary magazine's 10th Anniversary Celebration in May. It was a privilege to witness and help document the incredible community that has grown around the magazine over the past decade. This summer, I look forward to continuing my photography journey, capturing the connections, creativity, and community spirit that make every gathering and every story unique. Through photography, I hope to preserve the moments and experiences that help tell the stories behind the people who inspire us. Find me on Shutterstock.

Some Photos Representing Our Experiences
Slideshow Photos: Courtesy of Team Members

"Working with others on a publication where your team members’ sense of vision, direction and purpose are completely in tune with yours is extremely rare. The working relationship and positive environment at SANCTUARY is definitely something special, and I couldn’t be more proud of the result. I value the exemplary contributions and hard work that every member of our team has provided in order for us to put together unique and relevant content each and every month. I'd like to send a special shout-out to my senior editors whose years in the publishing industry and wide range of expertise help to make my job so much easier." 

​~ Myrna Haskell, Executive Editor

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Learn more about the women behind Sanctuary:

Our Team

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"Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you. Spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life forever."
~ Amy Poehler
Actress, Comedian, Writer, Producer