Finding My New Normal
I have been in the publishing business with my dad, Harvey Kart, since I was a freshman in high school. First, I was the editor of his teen publication, The Next Generation. Later, in my young adult life, I managed two hospital trade publications, Chicago Hospital News and Atlanta Hospital News, both spinoffs of Western Pennsylvania Hospital News. While I have always loved working in this industry, this is the first time that I’m part of a publication that I can truly relate to.
Pittsburgh Better Times was launched in late summer 2010 by my dad after seeing me go through the life-changing experience of a divorce with two young children in tow. During the last several months, I have been behind the scenes helping him build this new brand. Because he will focus more attention to Western Pennsylvania Hospital News to accommodate its increased readership, both in print and online, I will be taking over as publisher of Pittsburgh Better Times. Having gone through a divorce with two children and having come out of it a better person, I wanted to pay tribute to all of those who are going through an experience like this and finding their new normal.
They always say what doesn’t kill us only makes us stronger. Whether you’re divorced, separated, or widowed, we’re all going through this process of trying to move on to the next stage of our life. Pittsburgh Better Times is a lifestyle publication and website serving the nearly one half-million individuals* in Pittsburgh and surrounding counties who are divorced, separated, or widowed. It’s a place where you can go and focus on moving forward. This digital magazine will be driven by the voices of our writers and the audience we plan to serve. We will continue to highlight and profile people who are divorced, separated, or widowed in a positive way and inspire others as they continue on with their lives. Pittsburgh Better Times will feature educational and informative articles, as well as enriching and empowering stories about life, love, and leaps of faith. Our aim is to meet the diverse, personal needs of our readers by delivering relevant information on parenting, relationships, education, careers, health, humor, money management, nutrition, online resources, self-improvement, travel, and more. In addition to publishing articles from leading experts, you will find this site to be a one-stop shop for advice, everyday living tips, health and wellness guides, as well as stories from people who survived and thrived in these types of situations.
Like you, I also had to start over in so many ways—I had to move to a new home, switch schools for the kids, get a new job, buy a new car, and even go back to using my maiden name. I had to start from scratch and build a whole new life for myself and the kids. I know what it’s like. Throughout Pittsburgh Better Times, you’ll find information on starting over, and not just starting over from the emotional side, but also the every day things you may have taken for granted in the past. One of the sections of the site that I’m most excited about is our new Picture Perfect page. I seem to have become extra sentimental this past year and love enjoying every little happy moment. As quoted by an unknown author, “Life is not measured by the number of breaths you take, but by the moments that take your breath away.”
We’re hoping that you, too, can also submit pictures that may bring you to that happy place—kids, vacations, pets, whatever it may be. When you go through a divorce, separation, or the death of a spouse, it makes you look at life from a whole new perspective. I’m hoping that Pittsburgh Better Times can help people see that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Sure, heartbreak and sadness will still creep up on you every so often, but once you make the decision to move forward, you might end up becoming a better version of yourself and find happiness when you least expect it.
We encourage you to submit your stories. I learned so much from others going through similar experiences and I’m sure you will too. As an extension of our brand, readers can also follow Pittsburgh Better Times through our social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn—to connect with others who share similar personal experiences, challenges, ideas, and questions. For more information, please contact me at [email protected] or Daniel Casciato, our Assistant to the Publisher, at [email protected]or 412.607.9808.
*Source: http://homes.point2.com
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