Message from our Editor
August 2026
by Stephanie Toews, Executive Editor
A Change in Perspective
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."
— John Muir
Yesterday we took a drive up the Beartooth Highway in search of the perfect spot for my daughter's senior pictures. It's a drive we make at least once a year, yet somehow it never loses its ability to leave me speechless. People travel from all over the country to experience this place. You only have to look at the license plates in the parking lots to see that. Meanwhile, it's sitting right here in our backyard.
I'll admit, I started the day tired. We'd had a full weekend, and the thought of spending several hours in the car wasn't exactly exciting. In fact, I don't think I've ever been the one driving up the pass before. I've always been the passenger. But somewhere between Red Lodge and the summit, something shifted. Maybe it was the altitude, but I think it was my attitude.
The higher we climbed, the smaller everything else seemed. Mountain goats grazing on rocky cliffs. Wildflowers tucked between patches of snow. Alpine lakes reflecting the bluest sky you've ever seen. The things that had been weighing on me just a few hours earlier suddenly didn't feel quite so heavy. Standing there, watching my daughter on that mountaintop as we captured her senior photos, I couldn't help but think about how quickly the years have gone and how grateful I was to simply be present for that moment.
Sometimes I think we all need a mountaintop perspective. Life has a way of narrowing our focus. Deadlines, disappointments, difficult conversations, the never-ending to-do list. It's easy to believe that's all there is because it's all we can see. But every once in a while, we need something that reminds us there's a bigger picture.
For me, it was a drive through the Beartooths. For someone else, it might be an early morning walk, a quiet conversation with a friend, a weekend away, or simply stepping outside long enough to look up. Perspective doesn't always change our circumstances, but it often changes how we experience them.
As you turn these pages, I hope you'll be inspired to make the most of what's left of summer while welcoming the season ahead. Visit somewhere new. Cheer on the people building our community. Start a new family tradition. Or simply slow down long enough to notice the beauty that's been there all along.
After all, some of the best views aren't the ones we travel across the country to find. Sometimes they're right here in our own backyard.
Love,
Originally printed in the August 2026 issue of Simply Local Magazine
Read this article in the digital issue of Simply Local here!
