Last year, I was honored to participate in Shot@Life’s Blogust program, where comments, shares and likes all translate to vaccines for children in developing countries. In 2014, this blog was responsible for over 3,000 vaccines, a record-setting number I hope we can match again this year.

I’ve been asked to share a quote that motivates or inspires me, and I have to say, this was a tough one. The majority of the quotes that speak to my soul were said by Homer Simpson or Ted Mosby. But then Mike reminded me of one I’d pointed out to him not long ago:

Continue-to-share-your_heart

This quote, given to us by national treasure Amy Poehler, really sums up why I’ve blogged through my life’s hardest moments. I’ve had my heart broken so many times, in ways I never, ever imagined possible, but I’ve found that sharing my pain has helped me piece my heart back together. In sharing my heartbreaks, I’ve found camaraderie, compassion, and, surprisingly, inspiration.

I try to use my heartbreak to help others. Sometimes that means channeling my hurt into fundraising, sometimes it means I’m helping to raise awareness, and other times it’s to help make people feel less alone. Sometimes, the person who feels less alone is me. It’s my hope that as I navigate this tricky life, I can help those who follow along behind me feel a little bit more normal.

Every twenty seconds, a child dies from a vaccine-preventable disease.  I don’t want any parent to lose a child to a preventable disease because they didn’t have access to the medications and advances we take for granted here. I want to help eliminate that heartbreak from a parent’s life.

During Shot@Life‘s Blogust 2015—a month-long blog relay—some of North America’s most beloved online writers, photo and video bloggers and Shot@Life Champions will come together and share inspirational quotes. Every time you comment on this post and other Blogust contributions, or take action using the social media on this website, Shot@Life and the United Nations Foundation pages, one vaccine will be donated to a child around the world (up to 50,000).

You can comment as many times as you’d like – for the entire month of August – and every comment will help save a life. You can also like or share this post on Facebook, Twitter, and pinterest to add to the vaccine tally. It’s a wonderfully easy way to ease heartbreak all over the world.

Sign up here for a daily email so you can quickly and easily comment and share every day during Blogust! For more information, visit shotatlife.org or join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

STOP THE SCROLLING! No more comments on this post, the run is over. Thank you for another AMAZING year!