Some fun changes are happening online, and you have a few kind comments from your fellow readers to thank.

First, some context.

Writers can feel like they are speaking into a black hole. It can feel like no one is listening. You write something and hope it resonates with someone, but that someone is often no one. Or so you think.

That’s how I’ve felt lately, until a small spark of connection revealed that I was not only heard, but missed.

In the unending deluge of information we often find in virtual spaces, a reader noticed something was absent from my previous online contributions. My heart leapt for joy as she expressed how she missed it. Her comment delighted me, and I felt validated and energized to keep going.

You see, kind words are like gems carefully sprinkled around for us to find when least expecting them – a sparkle of joy that cheers up bad days and scatters doubts. It’s amazing how a single word can provide strength during moments filled with dark clouds.

I know there’s no guarantee anyone will read my words, much less appreciate them. I’m not owed an audience. A readership is earned. That’s partly what makes it so rewarding to hear that my thoughts have mattered to another. So this post is about saying thank you. Thank you to the people who hit reply on the monthly newsletter. Those one-line responses mean the world to me. Thank you to those who engage on social media with a comment, a smiley face, or a thumbs up. It shows me someone saw me. And thank you to the handful of people who have mentioned how they missed Write the Next Line Wednesday.

Write the Next Line Wednesday

I’m bringing back the word game! Write the Next Line Wednesday is easy to play. I’ll provide a sentence or two, and you write what you think should come next in the comments. We’ll play the game on my Facebook and Instagram pages on Wednesday evenings. I hope to see you there.

Until then, keep reading, and when you have a minute or two to spare, send someone a message of encouragement. It will mean the world to them.