This past year I've changed a lot as a person, and I feel like I've made a lot of steps in the right direction. But coming into the new year, I realized that I did very little in 2016 to help others, and that just made me so sad that I felt a need to do something bigger than I've ever done to help make a positive change in the world. I also felt like it's foolish to ask to see change in the world without being willing to change yourself, so I am making a pretty literal, physical change this year in order to raise money to help the people working to do more.

This year on my birthday, March 28th, I will be shaving all of my hair off. I do this as a celebration of personal change, and a reflection of the positive changes happening in the world every single day. And also I'm kind of sick of having hair. I'm privileged to have the hair that I do,  and I've realized that I don't need it to be happy. In fact, it's been bringing more stress into my life than is at all practical. 

Since I'm trying to focus on finding joy in actions rather than objects this year, I ask that instead of feeling a need to give me a birthday present, you donate here to reflect my priority to give more than I receive this year.

I hope that you will join me in raising money for Human Rights Watch, a charity that works endlessly to support equal rights laws the enforcement of those laws in America and around the globe. It does so by documenting human rights violations and holding those responsible accountable. I encourage you to visit their website and see for yourself what a positive change this organization can make.

Now, have I said "change" enough here? Probably not.