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Welcome to the first. The first day. The first month. The very first of the year. Sometimes firsts don’t need to be tackled but eased into. That’s exactly the theme we want to enact today. Our January 2024 issue focuses on those initial thoughts and feelings when experiencing something for the first time. These moments include moving homes, new family dynamics and the body’s changes. Our contributors help us discover the power of introduction. It’s not as scary as you may find. 

Far Away We Go 

To begin, Viveca Chow charts her path. Hong Kong born and raised; Chow sought the theater world in New York City over a decade ago. Her Broadway dreams required rigorous training. This resulted in an intense pang of homesickness. However, Chow persevered. It was the role in Miss Saigon that saved her. Let her lead the way in ‘Art of the Game.’ 

Norman Demeo also chronicles moving far away from home in ‘Arrested Development.’ A first-generation immigrant, Demeo wanted to provide a better life for his family. Certain qualities helped him along his path in the face of the unknown. The challenges were his to overcome. 

The Changing Face of Family 

Ashley Bradley needed a change and quickly. The mother of two kids had recently gone through a divorce and her funds were suffering. So, Bradley went all in. In ‘A Thin Line’ Bradley educated herself on self-discovery and self-love. Learn about the book that supported her journey and gave her family stability.  

‘Blueprint’ features the stories of an eldest, middle, and youngest child. Their birth order impacted them in ways they’re still trying to grasp. Sophia Tang is the oldest sibling through and through. Tang is a built-in role model as she was the first to navigate her family. Meanwhile, Karol Chang depicts the middle child role through her tale. She credits this identity to her hardworking personality. Lastly, Jenny Simmons tells her youngest child story. Simmons states her flexible nature is a benefit from her birth order placement.  

The Body’s First 

April Federico did not have the Valentines Day she envisioned in 2022. She almost died. In January’s ‘I Can’ Federico details her brush with diabetic ketoacidosis. She had no idea of her diabetes. So, she educated herself to support her body and others. Move with the changing winds.   

To read all these firsts, look to the January 2024 issue of Mass Appeal Magazine. Happy New Year!