I am honored to report that on March 7, 2014, News To Live By appeared in The New York Times. For me, a former journalist who spent time as a reporter for newspaper and TV, there are few distinctions greater than to have my work appear in America’s most respected newspaper.

My submission to the NYT landed on its Learning Network blog. The site uses NYT articles as educational teaching tools, mostly for children in elementary and middle schools. I took the first section of five NYT articles and purposefully mixed up facts in each one, as well as tossed in a few grammar mistakes. The goal is to have students spot the errors. It’s a critical thinking exercise that captured the attention of the Katherine Schulten, editor of the Learning Network.

My sincere thanks to Katherine for believing in this “mixed-up facts” concept and publishing it on the Times’ renowned educational blog.

Here’s my NYT submission: The Learning Network: Skills Practice | Proofreading and Fact-Checking — by Danny Rubin

I won’t trifle you with the full story of how this all came together. One day, we can sit down, have a beer and I’ll regale you.

Only know this: I don’t have fancy media connections or an “in” at The New York Times. I am just a guy who started a blog.

I am also, however, a full-blown opportunist and never leave a stone unturned. I wrote a column for my blog similar to the one that I did for the Times, pitched the idea to Katherine Schulten and, after several months of back and forth and follow ups, it actually happened. I got in the Times.

The moral: just go for it.

The only thing holding you back is you. I believe in that statement more and more everyday.

Especially after March 7, 2014.