by Connie Brisson

Happy Anniversary Mosaic - it’s our 50th issue!

Catherine Potter and Brenda Mottram started Mosaic Magazine in the fall of 1995 (almost 15 years ago), publishing three issues a year. When I took it over in 2004 on issue #27, my daughter Gabrielle was just turning four and this January she turned 10!

Just before that, in late 2003, Marcel and I decided to try for another baby. Gabrielle was an invitro baby and we therefore tried that again with high hopes. We went through all months of preparation, hoop-la, drugs, infertilization and all seemed well at first. Then, I knew something was wrong. When the tests confirmed it, I was heartbroken. Our only option was to try once again but I didn’t know if I could do it another time, either physically or emotionally.

That same week Catherine Potter called me to see if I was interested in being the new publisher and editor of Mosaic Magazine. It was a bittersweet moment when I said ‘yes’ to Catherine. Did I want this magazine? Absolutely! But, for me, the decision was mixed with the melancholy of letting go of the dream of having another baby.

Yet, it also meant the fulfillment of other, older dreams. I had graduated from Journalism in 1985 and basically given up on writing because I really disliked working as a reporter for weekly newspapers. I wanted to write stories that inspired and helped people to change their lives and I dreamed of a magazine that would allow me to do that.

This was an odd dream because in Journalism we didn’t learn a lot about magazines - almost nothing at all. Yet somehow, at the back of my mind, in a city where there are very few magazines, I had dream of a magazine that would allow me to write stories that would change other people’s lives. In fact, Catherine and Brenda hadn’t even started Mosaic Magazine at that time (they would create it 10 years later)! And, I didn’t learn about Mosaic Magazine until many years after that.

Mosaic came to me almost 20 YEARS after my initial dream. And what I really want to tell you is to NEVER let go of your dreams. Whatever it is that you want - whatever it is that is in your heart - just keep dreaming it. There is nothing more powerful in the art of manifesting than dreaming and imagining. And if one door closes or one dream ends, it only means that the Universe has something else, just as wonderful or better, in store for you.

For me, the dreaming and imagining has never ended. After the first year, I began to publish Mosaic four times a year. Later I had the dream of changing Mosaic from newsprint to full gloss and then, another year later, to full color. Each change was scary/exciting/rewarding and I’ve loved making this magazine shine.

Now what I’d really love is to meet you! I’d love to hear WHAT YOU LOVE about Mosaic (and to talk about anything else you want to) over lunch, just you and me! So every month I’m going to pick someone who has posted a comment on my website at www.ilovemosaicmagazine.com under ‘Let’s Hear From You’ tab, for a fabulous lunch at a convenient location and time for both of us.

So go (right now☺) and post your comment about what you love about Mosaic, or what you loved about this particular issue, and your name will be entered into a monthly draw for a free, delicious and fun lunch avec moi! This invitation is open to everyone including all my wonderful and amazing friends, readers, colleagues and advertisers – so write in please! Tell me what Mosaic means to you…

I’m also very excited about our next Mosaic’s Delicious Book Club Dinner to be held at my dear friend Youmashni’s new Indian restaurant, NARAYANNI’S, 10131 – 81 Avenue, on Monday, February 15 at 6:00 p.m. While enjoying some delicious samosas and naan, we’ll be talking about Don Miguel Ruiz and Don Jose Ruiz’s The Fifth Agreement (Amber-Allen Publishing, 2010). Email me at mosaicmagazine@shaw.ca by February 14 if you want to join us.

Also, I want to bring your attention to the lovely Catherine Potter’s quest to help the people of Haiti after their devastating earthquake. Read more about this in her article on page 26.

To keep informed about everything MOSAIC (our upcoming book club dinners, Catherine Potter’s monthly astrological updates, other body/soul/spirit articles and deadline updates), go to www.ilovemosaicmagazine.com and sign up for our bi-monthly ezine that will come to you as a convenient email.

AND, thank you for being part of my dream. ☺

Connie