the never-ending story

i wanted to be a journalist ever since i had my first byline in the fifth grade. from that moment on, i could never imagine doing anything else.

being a journalist influenced almost every decision i made: what classes to take, what summer camps to go to, what books to read, what college to attend, what major to have, what people to admire, what internships to apply for.

my name in print, it was all i ever wanted. going to work every day at my first real job at a

big(ish) daily newspaper felt like a dream come true.

i wanted to be a journalist because i believe in the power of stories. i believe that stories can teach us. they can touch us. they can change us, hopefully for the better but sometimes for the worse.

when we know people's stories, i believe that we understand those people better. when we can tell our own stories, we find a firmer place to stand in our communities, our spheres, our identities.

stories are a way to get our heads around topics that are big, scary, controversial, easy to ignore. stories shed light. stories elicit action.

in short, stories make up our lives.

to tell people's stories, it was all i ever wanted. the chance to tell people's stories was a dream come true.

the one problem with dreams though is that they are, by definition, not always reality. and the journalism of my dreams did not account for industry instability, massive layoffs, constant worry, or the glenn beck takeover.

and so i felt in my heart that it was time to make a new dream, time to take what living my dream had taught me and put it somewhere else. it felt sad, but it felt right.

i still think of myself as a journalist, though. or at least as a storyteller. and i still believe that the best of my dream is true. i still believe that stories make people better, make governments more honest, make life more fair.

i still believe.

which is why i was over-the-moon thrilled when my friend, cristi, invited me to serve on the board of directors of her non-profit organization, the press institute. (goal #28, check!)

through the press institute, women and men around the world, from mexico to nepal to nigeria, are trained to tell the stories that matter most to them. they write about AIDS and poverty and human trafficking. they write about the triumph of decency and the human spirit. they develop skills that enrich their lives and earn money that supports their families.

stories are making their lives better.

and you can help make their lives better, too.

right now, any money donated to the press institute will be matched, dollar for dollar. your $10 becomes $20, your $20 becomes $40, your $50 becomes $100, and that can change someone's life.

at this christmas season especially, consider giving to the press institute in the name of a journalist you love. (like me!) i will personally send you a thank you card if you do. and if you need still more persuasion, check out this article, which argues (among other things) that charitable giving is the best form of gift giving.

because the only thing better than a good story is a happy ending, right?

it takes a village

all right blog stalkers and google updaters who visit me here every day, this is a limited time offer and it's just for you! and you will all be very, very grateful, as the little piece of information i am about to share will help bring you one step closer to my own impressive status of being done (that's right, done!) with christmas shopping.

check it out.

ten thousand villages in salt lake is donating 20 percent of the proceeds of anything sold from 5 to 8 p.m. TONIGHT to the ywca of salt lake city! it is the gift that, literally, keeps on giving. ten thousand villages has all kinds of jewelry, home decor and gifts from fair trade organizations and local artisan groups from around the globe, so you are giving a gift to women and families all over the world right there. and tonight, your purchase will go to help women and children right here who seek services at the ywca, including shelter and counseling. not to mention that, in the midst of all that global do-gooding, you'll also walk away with a unique and meaningful holiday gift for someone you love. or for yourself. or both. and isn't that what the christmas spirit is all about?

i thought so. so, come join the fun! tonight from 5 to 8 p.m. at 1941 south 1100 east in salt lake city.

see you there!

blogging for life

part of my long-term life plan involves getting famous (and hopefully filthy rich!) from blogging. i know that this can be done, and i am going to try my darndest to figure out how. (any suggestions or tips are welcome and encouraged, btw.)

for starters, i figured expanding my presence on this here interweb could only be a good idea, so i agreed to start a blog for ck's company, shabby apple. you should check it out because it means another dose of my wit, charm and brilliance, plus stylish dresses. which can also only be a good idea for everyone involved.

and it's an especially good idea because right now, this very second, on the shabby apple blog, we are running a charity auction to help stephanie nielson and her husband, christian, two friends of shabby apple who were involved in a private plane crash a few weeks ago and are facing months of difficult recovery and mounting medical bills. to learn more, go here or here.

it's not every day you can get a completely adorable dress and help a family in need, so i suggest taking advantage of it post-haste. i also suggest telling your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, train seatmates and people you meet in the grocery store to take advantage of it as well. i promise you won't be sorry.