I AM A WINDOW.

These words were spoken to me through Mr. Aaron Hardin, a top-notch photographer, about his role as a journalist for the local daily in town. They’ve been on my mind ever since.

How true, that the words & images we share as storytellers create a window through which the world sees itself (which is why, in my opinion, it stays in a near-constant state of being mad at the media. No one ever liked the mirror that made them look fat). What a responsibility, what a charge, then, to strive for excellence, insist on accuracy & serve my city, my world, to the best of my ability.

Last night I was interviewing an amazing woman, registered nurse by day, unpaid advocate by nights & over weekends. Brandy–that was her name–works for CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates. As a CASA volunteer, Brandy spends about 20 hours each month monitoring the lives of children in foster care, whether that’s performing regular home & school visits or taking their midnight calls for comfort. At the end of our chat, she charged me, as many others have before, to continue on in my career path to become a journalist, to give light to issues & individuals who go unnoticed, & to cover the good work of great organizations like hers. It’s always a wake-up call when the interviewee steps behind the curtain & begins asking about your life. But sometimes, it’s just the encouragement you’ve been craving.

If you’ve got a moment, cheri, click on the link above to find out more about CASA & how to lend a helping hand in your community.

As always, J’adore.