Full Disclosure
I’m not a stranger to writing online for an audience. And I’m not intimidated by it, on the right platform. But you deserve a disclaimer: I only know how to write one way. It’s very personal.
I wrote semi-publicly for the first time in 2001. Our daughter was born extremely premature and our family and friends all over Texas wanted to keep up with the ups and downs of her 22 days in this world. This was before I ever heard the word “blog.” I wrote as often as I could in Microsoft Word, emailed it to my brilliant dad, who created a website dedicated to our daughter and posted my updates there. I documented a story that had a tragic ending, one that changed me forever. We archived the website shortly after she died.
I did it again in 2005-6. (Still never heard of a “blog” before.) Our son Canon was 1 year old when he was diagnosed with a fatal liver disease and put on the organ transplant list. My dad created another website for him. I journaled in Word, emailed the docs to him, and he shared them with a growing community of people who cared deeply about Canon’s story. I wrote through the long storm to the rainbow and clear skies on the other side of a successful transplant. And then we archived that website as well.
It was after that when I remember people suggesting I start a blog. But I had 2 sweet little boys at home and a full-time job teaching 1st grade. I could barely keep up with showering! Enter Facebook. There was a sweet spot for me around 2012-2016 when Facebook felt like a safe and beautiful place to share, and I still write from the heart there sometimes. But when I do, I do it kinda scared.
Because I only know one way to write: it’s always been personal. It won’t always be heavy, but like Meg Ryan says in You’ve Got Mail, “Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal.”
“Whatever else anything is, it ought to begin by being personal.”
Right about now you’re wondering ‘What does this have to do with Storybridge?’ Well, nothing yet, except that I just want to warn you there is no robot writing this Storybridge blog. There is a me. And everything I write is filtered through my own experiences, my changing opinions, my imagination.
So by way of introduction (and invocation of another 90s rom-com): I’m just a girl. Sitting in front of a computer. Asking you if you want to read my PERSONAL thoughts about Storybridge-related things?
Some things you might see here:
The word that I just learned how to spell YESTERDAY because I guess I’ve never read it in a book before!
My thoughts about the importance of fairy tales/fables.
My opinion about the impact of a teacher reading a novel out loud
What I’ve learned leading a nonprofit and what I’m still trying to learn
My experiences behind the scenes - our office vibe, meeting volunteers, watching our programs run
Trends in book donations/ specific needs we notice
Special blog posts by our staff or board members or volunteers
How I’m trying to become a better human
It may be truly all over the place, but I’m happy to try it. And it would be an honor if you’re interested in joining me here.
Live a good story ♥
Chandra