Finding Meaning Through Curiosity, Collaboration, and Communication
After months of building a community newspaper from the ground up, I’m reflecting on what kind of meaningful work I want to do next.
What will I do next?
It’s a question I’ve been asking myself a lot lately.
For the past 10 months, I’ve poured my energy into building something that matters — a newsroom rooted in community, collaboration, and care. La Conner Community News was more than a publication to me; it was a living experiment in how journalism can connect people and strengthen belonging. It was proof that people want to be informed and connected within their communities.
But seasons shift, and with them, so do we. As I look toward what’s next, I’m less interested in titles or industries and more interested in alignment — with purpose, with people, and with the values that have always guided my work: curiosity, collaboration, and communication.
My son and I built this castle together one afternoon. It’s a perfect example of how a little curiosity and collaboration can communicate meaning and strengthen a relationship.
Curiosity has always been my compass. It’s what led me into journalism in the first place — the desire to ask questions and to understand the “why” behind every story. It’s also what keeps me learning new tools, exploring AI, experimenting with digital storytelling, and rethinking how we share knowledge. I’m at my best when I can explore, discover, and innovate — especially when the goal is to make complex things clearer for others.
Collaboration is my favorite kind of creativity. Whether in a newsroom, classroom, or strategy meeting, I thrive on bringing people together — readers and leaders, students and teachers, developers and designers — and finding that shared spark that makes a project take off. I believe real progress happens when we invite many voices to the table and genuinely listen. Collaboration isn’t just about teamwork; it’s about trust and mutual respect.
Communication is the thread that ties it all together. It’s how ideas become action. It’s how connection becomes community. From writing news stories and developing curriculum to mentoring young journalists and leading digital strategies, communicating to build and maintain relationships is both my skill and my purpose. I love shaping messages that move people — toward understanding, toward each other, and toward change.
So, what will I do next? I’ll keep building things that help people connect — to information, to ideas, to one another. Maybe that means teaching again, strategizing for an organization, or leading digital transformation for a mission-driven team. Maybe it’s something entirely new.
Because that’s who I am, and that’s the work that makes me come alive.
Love this. And I’ve been thinking about that same paradox. Connection has become easier in form but harder in spirit. What you say about curiosity and collaboration feels like the way forward. It’s less about platforms and more about intention, the kind of work that invites people to belong, not just consume. Collaborating with my daughter is something I enjoy too—when she let’s me.