EDITOR’S NOTE

Welcome to the fourth issue of TOKEN Magazine.

Hope is a funny thing. In many ways we need it to survive, to keep going in rough times, to spur us to make a change. Too much hope, however, can be dangerous. You can set yourself up for disappointment, one might argue. But as human beings, despite knowing the dangers, we can’t help but hope, even just a little bit, and I think that’s what makes hope so special. Initially, I set this theme because I could feel the general sensous around me was that of hopelessness. I wanted this issue to be a welcome change to what we see in the news, on Twitter, in our everyday life. I wanted this issue to be a reminder that we all can, and will, overcome adversities. That where you are now, and how you’re feeling presently, can change. And if you’re in a bad situation, are feeling low, that you will overcome it. It just may take time, so hang in there.

A reoccurring theme in this issue is also that of change, both through the actions of individuals and the passing of time. From an account of gradually learning to swim in the sea to overcome PTSD, to a story about a man needing to win a boxing fight in order to return home to his family, each piece in this issue is so vastly different, showing that hope means so many different things to different people. I feel proud to be able to show a snapshot of what hope means to these contributors.

My wish, as ever, is that we continue telling our stories, fictional or not. We continue to hope and take action to meet our goals. But most of all, that we remember to be kind to ourselves—it’s important that we take the time to do that first and foremost.

Finally, I very much hope that you enjoy this issue.