Beauty in the Break

Asthma, allergies, dyslexia, ADHD, anxiety, depression and COVID-19 — all challenges that American Olympian Noah Lyles faced throughout his life and leading up to and during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Still, Lyles was named the fastest man in the world after winning gold in the men’s 100-meter final with a time of 9.784 seconds.

“What you have does not define what you can become,” Lyles said in a social media post on Aug. 4, following his record-breaking win.

Showing resilience and perseverance to overcome challenging obstacles and hurdles, Lyles’ story is the type that inspires me.

I’m reminded of the Japanese artform Kintsugi, which involves repairing broken pottery with gold, silver or platinum dusted lacquer. Instead of masking the repairs, the cracks are intentionally highlighted. There is beauty in the break and the struggle that makes the artwork, or the Olympian’s story, that much more inspiring.

With the 2024 Paris Olympics concluded and our 2024 Best of Tallahassee winners announced in this issue, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible journeys of those who become the best on scales both global and local. 

Here in Tallahassee, businesses voted the best by you, the reader, are made up of individuals who have dedicated their lives to their craft. Passion, dedication and consistency pave paths to success. But that is just half of it. Having the heart to believe and the will to keep getting back up when you fail, in my opinion, is the ultimate edge to winning success.

I am honored to congratulate each winner listed in our Best of feature beginning on page 106. We have first-time winners and longtime local favorites that have won every year for the 26 years we have conducted this annual readers’ choice poll. Each year, the competition increases as more businesses come to our area and more readers cast their votes.

You might recognize our iconic “Best of” logo proudly displayed on business walls each year. I have seen this logo in advertisements throughout the pages of this magazine, all over town at local establishments and on commercial vehicles, billboards, signs, coasters and more. This logo is much to be proud of, and I encourage you to congratulate a business when you see it.

The attention to detail, creativity, consistency, dedication and resilience is really what is being celebrated. I invite you to come join us as we celebrate as a community. We will be hosting the annual Best of Tallahassee event on Nov. 12, 2024, at The Moon, presented by Ox Bottom Animal Hospital.

We are proud to announce our Best Nonprofit/Charity winner, Big Bend Hospice Foundation, as the beneficiary of this year’s Best of Tallahassee event and the recipient of in-kind support, which will include pro-bono advertising and marketing services.

Big Bend Hospice has been establishing hope since 1983 as the pioneering nonprofit providing compassionate end-of-life care to individuals and families across Franklin, Gadsden, Jefferson, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Taylor and Wakulla counties. The Foundation was established in 1995 to support the underfunded and unfunded programs of Big Bend Hospice.

If you have ever experienced what hospice can do for you and your family when a loved one is experiencing the end of life, you know words can’t express the gift these angelic individuals are. They recently expanded their support with the new First Center for Compassionate Care, which is a peaceful inpatient hospice unit on the third floor of Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare that provides the comfort of home and the compassion of hospice for patients and families.

If you are experiencing a challenging chapter in your life, my hope is for you to have the courage to keep moving forward. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, be resilient and be inspired to become better rather than bitter because of your circumstances. I encourage you to share the breaks in you, for that is what makes you, you. There is beauty in the break.

Much love,

McKenzie Burleigh, Publisher
mburleigh@palmbeachmedia.com