As I was trying to think of the words to say in this column, the only thing that came to mind were the lyrics to that old song Turn! Turn! Turn! by The Byrds:
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to be born, a time to die
A time to plant, a time to reap
A time to kill, a time to heal
A time to laugh, a time to weep
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to build up, a time to break down
A time to dance, a time to mourn
A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time of love, a time of hate
A time of war, a time of peace
A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing
To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)
And a time to every purpose, under heaven
A time to gain, a time to lose
A time to rend, a time to sew
A time for love, a time for hate
A time for peace, I swear it’s not too late
I’m not quite sure why those lyrics came to mind, to be honest with you. I’m sure it’s partially because this song means a lot to me. While the words are often interpreted as an anti-war anthem, to me, the lyrics represent much more than that.
When I consider these lyrics, they’re a reminder that things change, times shift, and there’s a purpose for everything that comes our way. The reasons we endure trying times aren’t always clear right away, but we eventually learn what the lessons are that the tough situations were meant to teach us. It just often takes patience to become clear.
That feels apropos right now, as the entire planet feels at odds with not only a virus but also opposing mindsets. To say that 2020 has been a rough one would be an understatement. The last 365 days have been a stressful time for all of us, but this song is a reminder that these times will change. We will get through this mess — it’s just not clear how or when that will happen yet. But I promise you, we will.
These lyrics also resonate with me right now because we’re in the midst of some big changes for the magazine, which feel more like a rebirth of DGO Mag than anything. Changes are scary, but in this case, I’m excited for what’s to come. The magazine will be better off for it.
One of the biggest changes we’re making is our printing schedule. We’re switching to a monthly schedule as of this issue — a departure from our current bi-weekly schedule. That means you’ll find a fresh new issue of DGO on stands the Thursday prior to each new month.
We are also switching up our strategy with how we cover certain topics. As the world around us has changed, so must our approach to what we’re writing for you. We’re all stuck inside, socially distant, just like you. We can no longer run out and cause havoc in the bars on Main Avenue or tell you the tawdry tales from the Great American Beer Festival in Denver. We can’t even tell you about the food we ate — not unless it’s displayed in a to-go box.
Everything is at a standstill for everyone, and we’re having to find more innovative and creative ways to cover what we like: booze, food, weed, and life as we know it in the Southwest. Those changes are rolling out with the changes to our print schedule and will continue over the next few months.
That new print schedule doesn’t mean we won’t bring you fresh content, however. The types of stories you see in this magazine will shift a bit, but we’re adding some awesome new perks, too. We’ll be adding more pages to the monthly magazine in the next couple of months, which means you’ll get a thicker, more content-heavy DGO for you to snag.
We’re also going to bulk up our web content, too. If you’re looking for more weed reviews, we’ll have those online each week. That will double the strain reviews you’re getting currently. Or, if you want to know about the stuff we’re drinking or eating, we’ll be telling you those tales online, too. When events kick back into high gear and bars open back up, we’ll have plenty of that type of coverage on the web and in print for you to peruse as well. We aren’t going anywhere; we’re just switching gears to a more digital presence.
I’m looking forward to the day we’re all back to normal. A day when we’re not just on track with public health, but also with the way we deal with opposing views. I’m hoping the next year will bring us all more peace and understanding about each others’ situations, and that as a country we’ll find more common ground. I’m sure you are, too.
Until that happens, I’ll be here, humming that old song and publishing content for you guys. Cheers to the new year and cheers to a better 2021. And, as always, thanks for reading.
Angelica Leicht
Editor, DGO Mag
