CKYFS Magazine @CKYFSMagazine

A little late sharing these memories from August—but this celebration deserves its moment ✨ CKYFS Magazine marked the launch of Issue 2: Women of Today in conjunction with the 100-year anniversary celebration of women’s equality. With the theme Beauty Beyond Tradition, this issue celebrates women’s stories, strength, and the progress made across generations. Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening special. 💛 📸 Loan Thach Photography CKYFS Magazine — Legacy • Resilience • Power #CKYFSMagazine #WomenOfToday #BeautyBeyondTradition #WomensEquality #LegacyResiliencePower

From Navy colleagues to future contributors. ⚓️📖 While meeting up with some of my Navy colleagues in Washington, D.C., I brought along CKYFS Magazine. Their feedback? “This is very well done.” And naturally, I didn’t stop there. 😆 I’ve already enlisted some of them for Issue 03: BUSINESS OWNERSHIP. Two issues down. The next story is already taking shape. CKYFS Magazine Legacy • Resilience • Power #CKYFSMagazine #BusinessOwnership #VeteransInBusiness #Entrepreneurship #WomenInBusiness #NavyVeteran #WashingtonDC #IndependentPublishing #LegacyResiliencePower

@Patrici97483072 Thank you 😊

A FAREWELL TO RENEE ✨ As CKYFS Magazine moves forward, we say farewell to Renee and thank her for the travel stories and perspectives she shared with our readers. Her contributions became part of the magazine’s early journey, and we appreciate the role she played during this chapter. As her time with CKYFS Magazine comes to a close, we wish her all the best in her future endeavors and travels. Thank you, Renee, and farewell. 🌍 Legacy • Resilience • Power. #CKYFSMagazine #Farewell #Contributor #TravelStories #NewChapter #MovingForward

🀄️ Mahjong, conversation & a little unexpected feedback. During one of our mahjong gatherings, a player took the time to read CKYFS Magazine and told me: “Your magazine is written really well.” That made this publisher smile. 😊 Beautiful images may catch your attention, but good stories are what make you keep turning the pages. Two issues in, CKYFS Magazine is becoming exactly what I wanted it to be — real people, real experiences, and stories worth preserving. Legacy • Resilience • Power @CKYFSMAGAZINE #CKYFSMagazine #Mahjong #StoriesThatMatter #IndependentMagazine #LegacyResiliencePower #SanDiego

@Patrici97483072 Thank you! 😊 I’m glad you enjoyed them!

This is why we publish. 🧡 One of our contributors received her copy of CKYFS Magazine: Women of Today and stayed up all night reading it! “Woo hoo! Love it! Stayed up all night reading!!! Such beautiful stories!!!!” Every woman featured in this issue shared a story of courage, resilience, independence, and purpose. Seeing these stories connect with our readers makes every step of this journey worthwhile. Women of Today is officially in their hands—and being read from cover to cover. 🧡💪 Legacy • Resilience • Power #CKYFSMagazine #WomenOfToday #BeautyBeyondTradition #WomenSupportingWomen #WomensStories #IndependentMagazine #LegacyResiliencePower

CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT | RICO 🇯🇵 A Japanese Woman Finding Her Own Path What happens when a woman spends years giving everything to her family, her work, and the expectations placed upon her—only to realize there is very little left for herself? In Women of Today, Rico shares an intimate perspective on the realities faced by some women in Japan, particularly those who marry into a family and find themselves carrying expectations of devotion, responsibility, and sacrifice. Her story also speaks to change. Now divorced, Rico has built an independent life and works as a luxury tour guide in Japan, creating a career on her own terms while introducing travelers to the country she knows so deeply. Rico’s contribution isn’t about rejecting tradition. It is about recognizing what can happen when women are expected to continually give without making room for their own identity, ambitions, and happiness. Her story brings another voice to Women of Today—a woman shaped by Japanese culture and family expectations, yet choosing what the next chapter of her life will look like. Beauty Beyond Tradition. #CKYFSMagazine #WomenOfToday #ContributorSpotlight #WomenInJapan #JapaneseWomen #WomenStories #WomenEmpowerment #IndependentWomen #Japan #BeautyBeyondTradition #LegacyResiliencePower

✨ CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT ✨ Meet Dr. Patricia Benjamin @Patrici97483072, a featured contributor in Issue 02: WOMEN OF TODAY. In her contribution, Dr. Benjamin discusses an important step in cancer care: completing the appropriate testing before beginning treatment. Testing can provide doctors and patients with valuable information to help guide treatment decisions and determine a more individualized course of care. Her message encourages patients to ask questions, understand their options, and become informed participants in their healthcare journey. We are honored to share Dr. Benjamin’s knowledge and perspective with our readers. CKYFS MAGAZINE Legacy • Resilience • Power #CKYFSMagazine #ContributorSpotlight #WomenOfToday #CancerAwareness #CancerCare #PatientEducation #InformedDecisions #BeautyBeyondTradition

CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT | ALINA Strength Isn’t Measured in Muscle Twenty years of military service taught Alina that strength has very little to do with physical power. A retired U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman, HM1(EXW), Alina’s service took her around the world—from working alongside villagers in Papua New Guinea on a mission connected to recovering fallen American service members, to confronting some of the most difficult experiences of her own military career. Her story is one of service, perseverance, courage, and ultimately, transformation. After retiring from the military, Alina turned her experiences into a new mission: helping others heal. She earned her master’s degree and became a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, intervention specialist, and trauma specialist. She also brings the perspective of having been trained as a Sexual Assault Victim Advocate and Sexual Assault Medical Examiner. In “Strength Isn’t Measured in Muscle,” Alina shares an intensely personal account of what it meant to serve as a woman in the military—the extraordinary opportunities, the friendships, the barriers, the trauma, and the determination that carried her through a full 20-year career. Her story does not end with what happened to her. It continues with what she chose to build afterward. “Real strength is surviving something that should have broken you and choosing to build a meaningful life anyway.” We are honored to welcome Alina as a contributor to Issue 02 of CKYFS Magazine: Women of Today. Legacy. Resilience. Power. #CKYFSMagazine #WomenOfToday #ContributorSpotlight #StrengthIsntMeasuredInMuscle #WomenVeterans #MilitaryWomen #NavyVeteran #HospitalCorpsman #WomenWhoServe #VeteranVoices #SurvivorStrength #TraumaRecovery #HealingIsPossible #Resilience #Courage #Purpose #LegacyResiliencePower

Contributor Spotlight: Brenna Sweeny Age Group: 20s Profession: Patient Coordinator & Event Planner Feature: Tree Rings What does it really feel like to be twenty-three in today's world? Brenna Sweeny captures that question with remarkable honesty in her essay, “Tree Rings.” Rather than offering advice or pretending to have life figured out, she invites readers into the beautiful uncertainty of young adulthood—where student loans exist alongside dreams, childhood slowly gives way to independence, and every passing year leaves another ring in the story of who we are becoming. With humor, vulnerability, and sharp observation, Brenna reflects on everything from growing older, relationships, finances, and career to the quiet realization that adulthood doesn't arrive all at once—it grows gradually, one season at a time. Her writing reminds us that growth is rarely dramatic; instead, it happens through everyday moments that, over time, shape our character much like the rings of a tree. Brenna's voice represents a generation navigating rising costs, changing expectations, and an uncertain future while still finding reasons to laugh, hope, and dream. Her perspective is refreshingly authentic, thoughtful, and deeply relatable—not only to readers in their twenties, but to anyone who remembers standing at the threshold between youth and adulthood. - add hashtags We are honored to feature Brenna as one of our Women of Today contributors. Her essay is a heartfelt snapshot of life in this moment, preserving a chapter she may one day look back on with the same compassion and appreciation that inspired her to write it. Read Brenna's feature, "Tree Rings," and experience a heartfelt reflection on growth, identity, and the seasons of becoming. #ContributorSpotlight #BrennaSweeny #TreeRings #WomenOfToday #CKYFSMagazine #BeautyBeyondTradition #YoungAdulthood #LifeInYour20s #ComingOfAge #PersonalGrowth #WomenWriters #AuthenticVoices #GenerationalVoices #GrowthAndIdentity #ModernWomanhood #FindingYourPath #StoriesThatMatter #LegacyResiliencePower

CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT: MARIA SCHEMBRI Maria Schembri is our second contributor sharing her personal experience with perimenopause. In her 40s, Maria offers an honest perspective on the physical and emotional changes that come with this often-unspoken stage of a woman’s life. Every woman’s journey is different. By featuring multiple voices on this important topic, we hope more women will feel seen, understood, and less alone. Read Maria’s story in Issue 02: WOMEN OF TODAY. Beauty Beyond Tradition. #CKYFSMagazine #ContributorSpotlight #MariaSchembri #WomenOfToday #Perimenopause #WomenInTheir40s #WomensHealth #RealWomenRealStories #BeautyBeyondTradition

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✨ CONTRIBUTOR SPOTLIGHT: DHANASHRI PHADKE ✨ “Building a Joyful Legacy Through Technology, Family, and Purpose” For Dhanashri Phadke, innovation and legacy go hand in hand. A Computer Engineer, patent holder, mother, and aspiring entrepreneur, Dhanashri shares a journey shaped by technology, family, and generations of strong women who came before her. From her grandmother empowering women in her village through art and craft, to her mother demonstrating leadership through business, Dhanashri grew up seeing women create opportunities—not only for themselves, but for others. Today, she carries that legacy forward through engineering, innovation, motherhood, and her dream of building a company of her own. In CKYFS Magazine — Issue 02: Women of Today, Dhanashri reflects on what it means to build a life with purpose while creating a legacy for the next generation—especially her daughter. Her message is beautifully simple: Believe in yourself. Use your talents to help others. Create your own path. And never forget to find joy along the way. 💗 Women of Today Beauty Beyond Tradition #CKYFSMagazine #WomenOfToday #ContributorSpotlight #WomenInTech #WomenInEngineering #WomenEntrepreneurs #Motherhood #WomenWhoLead #Legacy #Innovation #WomenInSTEM

Taiwan’s Sky Made Me Stop and Look 🇹🇼☁️ Sometimes the most beautiful moments while traveling aren’t the places you planned to visit. They’re the moments when you simply look up and see a sky like this. Sunlight breaking through the clouds, mountains and rocks falling into shadow— for a moment, I just wanted to stand there and take it all in. Travel is about collecting these unexpected moments. ✨ 📍Taiwan #Taiwan #TaiwanTravel #BeautifulTaiwan #TravelPhotography #TravelDiary #LandscapePhotography #ExploreTaiwan #CKYFSMagazine

Every publication begins with a purpose. I’m Jane Chou, Founder & Publisher of CKYFS Magazine. What started as an idea has become a platform dedicated to sharing stories of resilience, culture, and the people whose experiences deserve to be heard. Issue 2, Women of Today, has taken me across countries, introduced me to remarkable women, and brought me closer to honoring my mother’s Taiwanese heritage through storytelling. This is more than publishing. It’s about preserving voices, building connections, and leaving behind something meaningful. Thank you for following the journey. 💗 Beauty Beyond Tradition. #CKYFSMagazine #Founder #Publisher #WomenOfToday #Editorial #Storytelling #Taiwan #SanDiego #Legacy #Resilience #TravelWithPurpose #WomenWhoInspire

✨ Contributor Spotlight | Annie 🇧🇬 From the heart of Bulgaria, Annie brings a deeply personal reflection on what it means to be a woman, a mother, and an educator. In “The Light We Pass On: My Journey as a Woman and Teacher in the Heart of Bulgaria,” Annie shares how the strength of her mother and grandmother shaped the woman she is today—and how she now passes that light on to the next generation as an English teacher in Sofia. Her story reminds us that education is more than teaching grammar or textbooks. It is about nurturing confidence, kindness, resilience, and hope in young people who will shape tomorrow. Published in both Bulgarian and English, Annie’s voice preserves the authenticity of her culture while inviting readers around the world to experience the heart of Bulgaria through her eyes. Because every generation is built by those willing to share their light. 💗 ✨ Beauty Beyond Tradition. #CKYFSMagazine #WomenOfToday #ContributorSpotlight #Annie #Bulgaria #BulgarianWomen #TeachersMatter #Education #GlobalVoices #WomenWhoInspire #Storytelling #BeautyBeyondTradition #LegacyResiliencePower

✨ Contributor Spotlight | Annie 🇧🇬 From the heart of Bulgaria, Annie brings a deeply personal reflection on what it means to be a woman, a mother, and an educator. In “The Light We Pass On: My Journey as a Woman and Teacher in the Heart of Bulgaria,” Annie shares how the strength of her mother and grandmother shaped the woman she is today—and how she now passes that light on to the next generation as an English teacher in Sofia. Her story reminds us that education is more than teaching grammar or textbooks. It is about nurturing confidence, kindness, resilience, and hope in young people who will shape tomorrow. Published in both Bulgarian and English, Annie’s voice preserves the authenticity of her culture while inviting readers around the world to experience the heart of Bulgaria through her eyes. Because every generation is built by those willing to share their light. 💗 ✨ Beauty Beyond Tradition. #CKYFSMagazine #WomenOfToday #ContributorSpotlight #Annie #Bulgaria #BulgarianWomen #TeachersMatter #Education #GlobalVoices #WomenWhoInspire #Storytelling #BeautyBeyondTradition #LegacyResiliencePower