It’s a beautiful story Anne. I think most of us tend to underestimate the impact our sincere words can have on another person—even during a brief encounter.
What we offer can be without words too. Sometimes a genuine smile in passing can uplift someone who may be struggling in ways we know nothing about.
Your experience has encouraged you to keep writing, and your post inspires other writers to do the same.
But in a more general sense your post offers a deeper inspiration that can be nicely summarized with the following words you wrote:
“…send a message that asked for nothing and offered everything.”
It’s an expression of unconditional love, the essence of an answer we often spend a lifetime discovering, or remembering. It’s an answer to the question, “Who is that person in the mirror?” 🙏🦁💜🙏
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful reflection.
I love that you drew attention to that particular sentence, because it quietly became the heart of the essay as I was writing it. Your point about how even the smallest gestures, a few sincere words or simply a genuine smile, can stay with someone long after the moment has passed is something I deeply believe. Thank you for reading with such care and generosity. 🫀🫀🫂
The sincerity in your writing comes across so fluently and it's both refreshing and so familiar. It certainly speaks to your ability to translate universal experiences and felt emotions to the page in a way that is uniquely you. I very much look forward to reading more of your work <3
Now I'm looking for words to describe the fascination of the goosebumps and chills I get (albeit rarely) when I'm thrilled by the choice of words, the gentle assembly, and the beautiful simplicity of a well-constructed sentence. Then I find someone like you, who strings them together like a musical composition, and the intellectual joy, having become physical, finds its way into my heart and soul. Oddly, I find I never expected to be given such pleasures here on Substack, while I'm just now waking up and collecting my thoughts. I cannot remember a time when I've felt so compelled to put together my own effusive and heartfelt praise early on a Thursday.
Thank you for what you write, and thank you so much for the way you write.
To name care in the present tense — to someone still becoming — is the bravest sentence there is. You wrote it without armour, and something passed through the screen. Now your essay has become the seven words. It found me too.
Thank you, Dominic. ✨ Your words moved me. There is something reassuring in discovering that what felt uncertain while writing could arrive so clearly for someone else. I’m grateful it found you too.
Thank you 🙏 Perhaps clarity isn’t what the writer puts in, but what the right reader takes out. P.S.-Keep writing without the armour. Some of us are reading for exactly that 🪶
This line hit home and said what I was also feeling -
"connection is possible. Reach anyway.
And so I keep writing. For the strangers who might need it. For the ones brave enough to say so. And for the ones who never do, who read in silence and carry something home."
This was great. We often forget how someone can make a big impact on our lives before we’ve ever met them in person.
The way you described receiving that message and thinking about why it mattered was very nicely written. Makes me wonder how often people appreciate others without actually saying it out loud.
I’m curious, although I think maybe the answer is a mixture of both: do you think the impact came more from the words themselves, or from the fact that they arrived unexpectedly from someone who you didn’t really know?
The words mattered, but the surprise gave them extra weight. We expect kindness from people close to us. When it comes from someone who barely knows us, it catches us off guard in the best way.
Maybe that’s why I remembered it. It wasn’t a grand declaration, just an unexpected moment of sincerity.
And now you’ve got me wondering how many kind thoughts are left unsaid every day. : )
Always so compelling. Your writing always reaches something deep. That’s why, of all the subscription emails I get, yours is the one I open first.
Thank you for sharing this.
Thank you. That means more than you know.
Knowing my writing is the one you choose to open first is both humbling and deeply encouraging.
I’m so grateful it resonates with you. : )
Honestly, just keep writing. I’ll be waiting for the next one.
It’s a beautiful story Anne. I think most of us tend to underestimate the impact our sincere words can have on another person—even during a brief encounter.
What we offer can be without words too. Sometimes a genuine smile in passing can uplift someone who may be struggling in ways we know nothing about.
Your experience has encouraged you to keep writing, and your post inspires other writers to do the same.
But in a more general sense your post offers a deeper inspiration that can be nicely summarized with the following words you wrote:
“…send a message that asked for nothing and offered everything.”
It’s an expression of unconditional love, the essence of an answer we often spend a lifetime discovering, or remembering. It’s an answer to the question, “Who is that person in the mirror?” 🙏🦁💜🙏
Thank you so much for such a thoughtful reflection.
I love that you drew attention to that particular sentence, because it quietly became the heart of the essay as I was writing it. Your point about how even the smallest gestures, a few sincere words or simply a genuine smile, can stay with someone long after the moment has passed is something I deeply believe. Thank you for reading with such care and generosity. 🫀🫀🫂
You are welcome, thank you for writing the post 🙏🦁💜🙏
Thank you. Knowing it resonated with you makes writing it worthwhile. ✨🫀
The sincerity in your writing comes across so fluently and it's both refreshing and so familiar. It certainly speaks to your ability to translate universal experiences and felt emotions to the page in a way that is uniquely you. I very much look forward to reading more of your work <3
Thank you, Sarah. That’s such a kind thing to say. I’m really happy the writing spoke to you. 🫂🫀🪻
This is a lovely meditation on the courage required not only to create meaningful work but also to acknowledge when it has touched us.
Thank you! ✨
That was very much at the heart of what I hoped to express, so I’m grateful it came across. 🤍
Now I'm looking for words to describe the fascination of the goosebumps and chills I get (albeit rarely) when I'm thrilled by the choice of words, the gentle assembly, and the beautiful simplicity of a well-constructed sentence. Then I find someone like you, who strings them together like a musical composition, and the intellectual joy, having become physical, finds its way into my heart and soul. Oddly, I find I never expected to be given such pleasures here on Substack, while I'm just now waking up and collecting my thoughts. I cannot remember a time when I've felt so compelled to put together my own effusive and heartfelt praise early on a Thursday.
Thank you for what you write, and thank you so much for the way you write.
Thank you. That’s an incredibly generous reading of my work.
It’s a strange and wonderful thing, this space where words travel quietly and sometimes meet someone exactly where they are.
I’m truly grateful for your message. ✨🤍
Your essay moved me deeply.🥹
Thank you. To know that something I wrote found its way to another person’s heart is one of the greatest gifts a writer can receive. 🫀🪻✨
Truer words were never spoken.❤️🔥🫂🌟
Dear Anne,
To name care in the present tense — to someone still becoming — is the bravest sentence there is. You wrote it without armour, and something passed through the screen. Now your essay has become the seven words. It found me too.
Thank you for this. With warm regards,
Dominic
http://www.qualityofbecoming.com/
Thank you, Dominic. ✨ Your words moved me. There is something reassuring in discovering that what felt uncertain while writing could arrive so clearly for someone else. I’m grateful it found you too.
Thank you 🙏 Perhaps clarity isn’t what the writer puts in, but what the right reader takes out. P.S.-Keep writing without the armour. Some of us are reading for exactly that 🪶
I loved this essay, Anne!
This line hit home and said what I was also feeling -
"connection is possible. Reach anyway.
And so I keep writing. For the strangers who might need it. For the ones brave enough to say so. And for the ones who never do, who read in silence and carry something home."
Thank you so much 🪻🪻💜
I think that’s exactly why I wrote it. We spend so much time wondering whether anyone is on the other side of our words.
And then, every now and then, someone says, “Yes, I felt that too.”
That small moment makes the distance feel much shorter. ✨
This was great. We often forget how someone can make a big impact on our lives before we’ve ever met them in person.
The way you described receiving that message and thinking about why it mattered was very nicely written. Makes me wonder how often people appreciate others without actually saying it out loud.
I’m curious, although I think maybe the answer is a mixture of both: do you think the impact came more from the words themselves, or from the fact that they arrived unexpectedly from someone who you didn’t really know?
Probably a mixture of both.
The words mattered, but the surprise gave them extra weight. We expect kindness from people close to us. When it comes from someone who barely knows us, it catches us off guard in the best way.
Maybe that’s why I remembered it. It wasn’t a grand declaration, just an unexpected moment of sincerity.
And now you’ve got me wondering how many kind thoughts are left unsaid every day. : )
I would assume its higher than we think - especially those moments were you don’t say something and then the moment has gone or no longer feels right
I think so too. The unsaid things have a way of staying with us longer than the spoken ones.