A Letter From The Editor

The average person spends one-third of their life working and another third sleeping. So, this leaves us with the existential and painstakingly unanswerable question: How can we spend the remaining third of our lifetimes in a way that counts? 

Society and the world tell us that we need to be in constant motion and intently focused on ourselves in order to be productive. However, sometimes the most deliberate thing you can do is stop moving, pause your ambitions and attempt to understand your surroundings more deeply. 

That’s what this issue of Curb strives to accomplish. 2020 has challenged us in ways we did not foresee. The world is experiencing a new era of unrest and uncertainty, wrapped in a pandemic and spurred on by the ever-widening gap between those debating the best path forward. Instead of trying to sort through the noise and find what’s at heart of it, we have stopped listening. 

This is why Curb invites you to join us in taking an intentional pause to reflect and notice the many voices that have gone unrecognized. In our stories, we explore the ways so many Wisconsinites have experienced both universal and deeply personal obstacles, as well as how they are staying close to one another, even during a time when it’s not physically possible. 

By reading Curb Pause, you will have the opportunity to get in touch with the Wisconsin outdoors, admire the strength of local business owners and peer into the sustainable world of thrifting. The fabric of empowerment and hope is threaded through each of these stories, and we sincerely believe that together we’ll create an environment where a moment of silence can lead to a movement. 

Thoughtfully,

Cara Suplee

Editor in Chief