About Lisa and writing this blog
I'm Lisa Ratzlaff, the creator of this blog. Writing these stories fills my heart with joy and fuels the creativity inside me.
I feel lucky to call Portland home.
I fell in love with Portland the first moment I moved here, and I can truly think of no better place to live.
I loved exploring the city by bike when I first moved here. It was a great way to get to know all of its neighborhoods and parks. It was a very intimate way to get to know the city.
One of the first things I noticed about Portland was all of the independent businesses and artists here. That was a stark contrast to places where I had lived previously.
So, I decided to I wanted to get to know the people behind these businesses and tell their stories.
I am inspired every day by the people I meet.
Meeting the incredible people behind these stories has had a huge impact on me and my life. I hope telling their stories has helped them as well.
Not only do the people I meet inspire me with their courage and passion for what they do, but they also give me the courage to follow my own dreams and build my own business.
Writing this blog was the impetus of starting my own small web design business, Share Your Story Media.
What motivates me
I hope sharing these stories will connect us to the city, the people who live here, and to ourselves.
Build Community
When we take the time to get to know each other, we build stronger relationships.
Support Local Business
Sharing these stories is an effective way to help small local businesses thrive.
Explore Portland
Each interview and exploration offers a new glimpse into the city I love.