I've always asked why? Way beyond a child's natural curiosity, my need to know what's behind everything – and everyone – continues to guide my steps through life.  

That curiosity led me to journalism. What could be better than to legitimately ask hard questions? To approach anyone within my guise as a reporter and ask for answers?
As one of my father's most valuable lessons went: "The worst anyone can say is 'No'."

Ironically, though, it was getting those answers that led me away from 'hard news' journalism, the kind you see on the news, on click-bait social media posts, on television clips that last all of 30 seconds...

I discovered that I wanted to have more time to really hear people's stories, not to have only a minute to inanely ( and cruelly, I thought) ask a grieving mother how she felt. I wanted to learn the 'back story', to dive deeper into what makes every person unique, to hear their voice tell their story.

I gradually evolved as a journalist and writer – talking to engineers about nanotechnology; discovering how a blind child found a way to navigate horsemanship and win at jumping competitions; and how an animal's touch could comfort someone with dementia and bring much-needed relief to their caregivers.

I still use the five 'w's taught in journalism: what, when, where, who and how, to craft the story. But aside from the facts of a person's story, there are those quiet moments that are so precious, when a person speaks their truth. That’s what I want to hear, to share.

I'm so lucky that I can do this, spend time with people, hearing their stories.

My father taught me many things. Another lesson was: "Everyone has their story."

A wise man, my father:) I was lucky to be his daughter.