Member-only story
Thank You For Seeing Me
Why your comments touch my heart
“Thank you for your thoughtful feedback.” My typical first sentence to a heartfelt comment, and I go on from there. And I mean it. Forming relationships — no matter how temporary —are what fuel me as a writer. I feel seen in a way unavailable in the physical world, and I get to see others in a way I never would by passing them on the street. Or even as a co-worker, for that matter.
We share our insides here.
I write in the nude, so to speak. I feel like I disrobe and run outside to get the mail, where I may or may not be seen in that split second. If I’m being honest, every once in a while, I’m terrified and hope I’m not seen. But then there’s a heartfelt comment that makes it worth it. By exposing myself, I’ve formed a real connection. How rare is that in our clothed lives?
Sure, there are some negative comments that knock my fragile ego off balance, but even they have their value: They make me stronger, seriously. Not in a cliche way, but in a way that I learn I can handle what comes at me. Fear of criticism was the sole reason it took me until the age of forty to publish my work. I remember receiving my first comment and, to my surprise, not falling apart. Apparently, through writing, I built a thicker skin — a stronger, more confident version of myself. The title of…
