April has a way of reminding us that growth doesn’t happen all at once. It shows up in small ways. Longer days. Warmer air. A little more color coming back into the world. And if we’re paying attention, it shows up in us too — not as a sudden transformation, but as a quiet, ongoing process.
I’ve lived long enough now to know that life has a way of sanding us down every few years. Just when you think you’ve settled into a finished version of yourself, something shifts. Kids grow up and move into their own careers. Grandkids begin to arrive and change your perspective in ways you didn’t expect. And for some of us, there’s still a teenager at home keeping life interesting (and humbling) on a daily basis.
Then come new opportunities… and a few hurdles you didn’t exactly plan for.
What I’ve come to realize is this — we’re never really “finished.” We’re always being shaped.
And while that shaping isn’t always comfortable, it often reveals something better than what was there before.
That’s what makes this month’s cover profile with Dr. Mark Kingry so meaningful. After more than three decades in practice, he’s still driven by one simple mission — creating smiles that change lives. And now, he’s experiencing something special: treating the children of patients he first saw years ago. It’s a full-circle reminder that what we build over time truly matters.
You’ll also find a fascinating story from Jeff Barganier about a set of antique doors with a past that’s anything but ordinary. Let’s just say bringing them back to life wasn’t simple—and the journey behind them is worth the read.
If you’re looking for something lighter, Greg Budell tackles “The Tax Monster” this month in a way that’s painfully relatable and laugh-out-loud funny. And in one of my favorite pieces in this issue, you’ll revisit the simple but lasting wisdom of Frog and Toad—proof that sometimes the smallest lessons stay with us the longest.
Maybe that’s what April is really about. Not becoming someone entirely new overnight…
But allowing ourselves to be refined, strengthened, and reminded of what matters most.
So wherever this season finds you — in a time of growth, transition, challenge, or joy — take a moment to appreciate the process.
You may not be finished. But you might be becoming something better.
As always, if you know someone who would make a great cover profile, I’d love to hear from you at jason@riverregionboom.com.