I'm a person who wears many hats. I like it that way...it's easy to get bored, and shifting gears on a regular basis keeps me engaged. I'm incredibly fortunate to be able to do what I love, and occasionally be compensated for it. I'd do it whether I was paid or not—I love it that much. It's much nicer when I can do it and get kibble for the kitties, though.
Opportunities to do what I love, and to do it for a greater good don't necessarily come along all that often. When they do, I jump. How high? Give me a bar. I'll clear it, or break my neck trying.
In 2020, Covid-19 knocked our collective feet out from under us. I found myself out of work because of the virus, and while trying to just make it through each day without panicking, I realized I wanted to do something good, simply because I needed that.
I started poking around, and soon found something good. Really good.
In the Spring of 2020, Audible created "Audible Stories." It was a site providing free e-books to help keep children happy and entertained, and to provide some relief for anxious, weary parents. I knew I wanted to be a part of that, so I reached out to their Customer Service department. (Keep in mind they were slammed. Covid had depleted their workforce while increasing their inquiries. Everyone was looking for online learning, entertainment and engagement. They were a busy bunch.)
I kept striking out, and kept on plugging away. Eventually I connected with a wonderfully kind and helpful man, and told him I had some children's e-books and audiobooks on Amazon and Audible. We settled on three I'd submit, I signed some paperwork, and off to the races my book babies went.
In a year of uncertainty and unrest, I was comforted thinking of a child somewhere, listening to one of my stories and breaking out in giggles, or asking questions, or just sitting quietly and hearing the words. I spent time hopeful those same children and their parents were comforted, or entertained, or just got a little break from the very thick reality of the year.
The site is still up, Audible is still giving back, and I'm still smiling about it. I found out recently I'm going to receive a little compensation because of my contribution. It was completely unexpected—it's just the extra sparkly silver lining to the already silver-lining-laden situation.
If you have a moment and a child to share it with, check out the offerings. Stories, like children, are precious and unique. Also, like children, we don't take as much time as we should to just sit quietly with them.
And giggle a bit.
https://stories.audible.com/start-listen
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