The Way I See It...

Publisher's Letter 

Robin Rogers, Ed.D.

September 2025

There are words in the English language that are polite, pleasant, and perfectly fine. Words like “nice,” “good,” and “adequate” are still adjectives. But let’s be honest: none of us grew up dreaming of being called “adequate.” Nobody’s grandmother ever leaned over at the Sunday dinner table and whispered, “Darlin’, I just know you’re destined to be adequate.”

No, the word we want, the word we deserve, is fabulous.

Fabulous has a little drama to it, a little shimmer, a little jazz-hands energy. It’s the kind of word that doesn’t just walk into a room—it makes an entrance, hair blowing in the wind that no one else can feel. Fabulous is champagne in a red Solo cup, sporting diamonds at the Dairy Queen, and attending high school football on a Friday night, with nowhere else you’d rather be. To me, fabulous is self-confidence multiplied by drive. You don’t have to be beautiful, rich, or naturally talented (although there are some fabulous people in this issue who may be those things). I believe that, with enough effort, drive, and commitment, anybody can be fabulous. Sadly, many people seem to settle for mediocrity. Mediocre is for flat Diet Cokes and off-brand potato chips, not for people.

I guess that’s why the “Fabulous 40 & Under” issue is one of my favorite projects of the year. We celebrate people who are striving to be more than mediocre, people who aren’t content just to take up space but also bring sparkle, grit, and fresh energy to our world.

And the best part? The people in these pages didn’t nominate themselves. No awkward pick-me resumes show up in my email. Every single person featured in this issue was put forward by someone else who thought, “You know what? This person is just too awesome not to be noticed.” And in my book, that’s the best compliment you can get. Think about it: being nominated means that the folks who see you every day—the coworkers who watch you juggle ten things at once, the neighbors who see you volunteering after-hours, the boss who knows you’re the reason the office hasn’t burned down—actually stopped and sent an email to my office saying, “This one. This person is fabulous.” It’s like getting a standing ovation while you’re still mid-performance.

Now, fabulousness looks different depending on the lens you’re looking through. To a college professor, fabulous is keeping 30 young adults awake and engaged during an 8 a.m. government class and even managing to inspire them. To an entrepreneur, fabulous is turning a late-night idea scribbled on a napkin into a thriving business that makes Richmond Road traffic a little more bearable (looking at you, 7 Brew). To a nurse, fabulous is handling twelve-hour shifts with grace and zero tolerance for nonsense. To the third-grade soccer coach, fabulous is convincing kids to keep running in the fourth quarter, even as the humidity they are slogging through feels like soup.

That’s what makes this issue so much fun. Fabulous isn’t one-size-fits-all: it’s personal, it’s quirky, and it’s unexpected. One year, someone nominated their friend because she ran a business, led a nonprofit, and regularly baked the best coconut cake in Bowie County, all while pregnant with twins. And honestly? Sounds pretty fabulous to me.

The four states area is full of these people—people who lift this place up, who make our community smarter, stronger, and more vibrant. They aren’t doing it for applause, but when the applause comes, they sure as heck deserve it. And believe me, choosing only forty people is not for the faint of heart. Every year, when the nominations pour in, I’m tempted to simply say, “Forget it! Let’s just do the ‘Fabulous 400 & Under.’” Narrowing the nominations down is really tough. To start, we receive hundreds of nominations. Then, some people have multiple nominations. One person selected this year received 37 nominations from different people! Thirty-seven! That’s incredible.

 Here’s the other thing I want you to remember as you flip through these pages: fabulous isn’t about being flashy or famous. It’s about impact. It’s about showing up, making things better, and sprinkling a little extra magic while you do it. So let’s say it together. Out loud. “Fabulous.” Doesn’t it feel good? Doesn’t it make you sit up a little straighter, toss your hair, and think, “Yes, I am fabulous; thank you for noticing”? That’s the kind of energy this issue celebrates.

For almost 35 years, Four States Living Magazine has been telling Texarkana’s stories—serious ones, funny ones, heartfelt ones. But our “Fabulous 40 & Under” issue? It’s a yearly love letter to the movers, shakers, coconut-cake bakers, and risk takers who make this community so much fun to live in.

So to our 2025 honorees: congratulations! You’ve been noticed. You’ve been celebrated. You’ve been declared fabulous—and not by me, but by the people who see you doing your thing every single day.

And to everyone else reading this issue: don’t just admire fabulousness from afar. Spread it. Be it. Nominate someone next year. Clap for your coworkers. Compliment your neighbors. Tell your friends they’re more than fine, more than good, and more than nice. Because the truth is, fabulous isn’t just for the 40 people in this issue. Fabulous is for all of us, and Texarkana has plenty to go around.

So here’s to the word itself, to the people who embody it, and to a community that keeps producing exceptional people year after year. Fabulous isn’t just a label; it’s a lifestyle—and dear readers, Texarkanians wear fabulous well. As always, thanks for reading FSLM.