I don't need to tell you that this year has been a tough ride. For me, it's been a speed course in strength, resilience and recognizing values. As unprecedented events whip the world around on its axis faster than any of us can keep up with, all we can do is try to survive in this ever-changing new landscape.
The world we see tomorrow and the next day will never be the one we saw yesterday. The way I see it, we have two choices: We can struggle to rebuild what we once had, or we can take this opportunity to build up the things missing from that world. Why not make it better? More sustainable? I'm talking about everything: work-life balance, lifestyle, the environment, the journalism industry, trust, truth and accuracy.
As a journalist and writer, I've felt many ups and downs about the prospects of my career during the past few months. How do I do what I do best? Why does my job matter? What stories should I be telling? Is there a place for me? What way can I best serve the people around me?
At first I wondered if I should write about COVID-19, but am I really the best for that? Sure, tell me you need a story about the pandemic, and I’ll get you something well-written and accurate. But so many others can do that better than me. And, don’t we have enough of these stories? It’s so depressing. I think I better serve the world writing about the things that make me and my readers happy -- the stuff that reminds us that humans are just another part of an incredibly intricate system that keeps this planet going. I've come to the conclusion that I just have to do what I do best and have faith that someone needs it.
I now see these changes and instability as an opportunity to experiment with storytelling, share my skills and empower the Appalachian community by making their voices heard.