October always carries a quiet power. The light changes. The air shifts. And whether or not the weather fully cooperates, we feel something stirring—a call to reflect, reset, and maybe even rediscover.

That spirit is alive and well in this month’s issue of BOOM! At the center is our cover story on Martha Smith, a woman who radiates faith, strength, and compassion. After nearly three decades in community banking and nearly twenty more walking alongside women through breast cancer with Women of Hope, Martha now knows the journey firsthand. Her story reminds us that aging well isn’t about avoiding hardship—it’s about what we do with it. She shows us that even the hardest days can be transformed into testimony, and even in the face of diagnosis, faith and community can make it “the best day” after all.

October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this issue honors that in multiple ways. In addition to Women of Hope’s incredible support programs, we’re proud to recognize another powerhouse in our community: the Joy to Life Foundation, whose tireless work provides life-saving mammograms, education, and early detection services throughout

Alabama. Be sure to check out the ad on page 38 for details about their upcoming benefit concert on October 25—a night of music, mission, and joy you won’t want to miss.

Elsewhere in the issue, you’ll find encouragement and insight for whatever season you’re in:

  • A thoughtful look at how to understand and accept your adult child’s parenting style, even when it challenges the way you raised them.
  • A nostalgic, sharply funny column from Greg Budell on the late, great Johnny Carson, reminding us that influence doesn’t have to be loud—it just has to be genuine.
  • An adventure-filled fly-fishing story from Jeff Barganier, complete with waterfalls, bears, and a reminder that balance (literally) gets trickier with age—but the laughter is worth it.
  • A practical and empowering feature on using YouTube for DIY projects—because aging well includes figuring things out, and that little red play button might be the most underrated tool in your toolkit.
  • And for the women in our community: “Rediscovering Radiance” offers a real-talk guide to skincare, confidence, and redefining beauty on your own terms. Because taking care of yourself isn’t vanity—it’s vitality.

Taken together, these stories aren’t just about surviving another season. They’re about thriving in it. About learning new things, embracing new rhythms, and showing up—with strength, joy, and yes, a little lipstick.

So here’s to October: the month of pink ribbons, pumpkin everything, and the deep, quiet wisdom that comes with experience. Let’s keep learning. Keep giving. Keep walking alongside one another—and into whatever’s next.