Really connecting
I received an email from a woman in England the other day. She had reached out to me several months ago about her daughter, an alcoholic, but I hadn’t heard from her since that initial discussion. Originally she just wanted to “converse” with someone who understood addiction. I don’t think she was looking for any answers. She just needed to be heard by someone who understood what she was feeling.
Anyway, I heard from her again. Her daughter died. She needed to tell me, and she also wanted to thank me for the comfort I had given her, in that initial email, and in my articles about alcoholism.
I am humbled!
What we do, as writers, matters.
Never doubt that fact.
And what we do as human beings matters.
Never doubt that fact.
It is so easy to lose sight of that point. We lock ourselves away in a spare bedroom, office, or writing studio, and we pour out the words, one-thousand, two-thousand, three-thousand and more, day after day, week after week, in some cases reclusive by choice, no other human contact, and then we publish and we start all over again . . . but our words, published, go out there to the seven billion, and for some our words mean a great deal, a human contact, an understanding, a touch of empathy when most needed . . .
Really connecting
And that is, in my opinion, a miracle!
I now have a friend for life, that mother in England, suffering from a terrible loss, all because my words reached her at exactly the moment she needed them . . . one person touching another . . .
A miracle!
Do not mistake . . . this is not about me or how great I am or any of that other nonsense. This is about the importance of caring, and the importance our words can have. Two human beings making meaningful contact and connection . . .
Tears
Bill
“Helping writers to spread their wings and fly.”
Billybuc
Artistry With Words 
Bill, what can I say but this made my heart swell reading today. I have no doubt your words did help ease this mom’s pain and loss just a bit. Thank you for sharing this here with us today, as well as just being who you are – which is a wonderful, caring writer and person. Have a wonderful Tuesday now, my friend.
thank you so much, Janine! It is amazing the power our words have…and the power of love,my friend. Happy Tuesday to you!
Ahhh brother, tears stream down my cheeks. Yes, we writers do have a place, a mission. Thanks for heeding your mission Bill.
Thank you Greg! A whole lot of emotion in this piece….her email will fuel my writing for months.
Merry Christmas my friend!
I always find an interesting story here at Artistry With Words.
Thanks Mike! I aim to please!
Big Bro – I’m so glad you wrote a post this week. I was missing you, too! See, I didn’t see one for last week and kept checking back. You see, even here, on this blog, we all look forward to your writings. 🙂
Which is encouragement for me. There are some hard days, are there not? Where you wonder if it’s all worth it. I have those days, too. Usually I dust myself off and get right back up on the horse. My problem is that I have so many interests and things I like to do, that I “juggle” them – which is not always so good. But well…we’ll get there, right? Haha.
You really have influenced and inspired so many people. I promise. I started following your work at HubPages and my favorite stuff of yours are your writings here, but your writings on alcoholism have touched a whole other segment of people. That’s where you’re just so incredible. Keep on being the incredible human that you are!
Aww, Lil Sis, you’re going to make me cry. Stop it now! 🙂
Thank you! You know how I feel about you, so let’s not turn this into a cry fest.
Have a beautiful week my dear friend.
It’s wonderful to get that personal feedback from someone to say that what you wrote helped. I think we all hope we’ve made some kind of difference somewhere, but it isn’t always easy to see it.
No it isn’t, Andrea, so this post is a reminder for all of us who labor in anonymity. Thank you for joining me on this rainy Tuesday.
Aww, that is so nice. I was listening to someone talking on the radio yesterday and he said that he avoids using social media because in his opinion it makes him and others have a false sense of connection. That has not been my experience and I know from this lovely piece of writing that it is not yours, thank goodness. Have a wonderful week Billy.
It has not been my experience at all, Sally! I feel I have very real friends on Facebook, and I cherish your friendship.
Merry Christmas, Sally!
Hi Bill:
I received one out of the blue, very similar story as well. No matter the platform the words we write can make an impact. The other night after writing a short blog I paused over the send button thinking of the potential of those few simple words and the impact they may have.
Write on my friend… write on.
Hugs and Blessings from Alberta
All true, Rolly! Our words have great impact and great responsibility comes with them. I try to always remember that.
Merry Christmas my friend.
Sorry about the mother’s loss. The result of your interaction with her is an encouragement for writers. Thanks for sharing the inspiration.
This is an inspirational message. Your words inspire me and so it is no surprise that your words inspire others. You make me realize how important it is and how careful we need to be with our words. People are reading our words. Sometimes, people are looking for hope in our words and so we have an opportunity to save lives with our words. I know you see yourself as ordinary, but to me you are an amazing person who has taught me the value of words and how our words have the ability to connect with people in a way we could never imagine. Thank you for that valuable lesson. Because of you, when I write anything, I pay attention to the audience and the message they are likely to receive. It is good to be in the sphere of your influence.
You are beautiful, Marlene. Never forget it. I am honored to call you a friend.
Merry Christmas, with love
That piece touched me, Bro. It’s right up my street. When I did the piece on refugees, a poet rushed from the back of the room and kissed me on the cheek. A woman – on another occasion – said that she wanted to return just to listen to me. Small things in the larger scheme, but they ably demonstrate how we can touch others.
I tell people constantly that I write to inspire, motivate, elevate, illumine, reach the Heart. I am a servant and as such believe in what I do. Bill, I’m simply agreeing with you. We are like the tree and its branches. The branches need nourishment and then they produce fruits, bend in humility and offer them to mankind. This in turn serves the higher cause. Praise be!
Praise be for sure, Manatita! Thank you! You are a kindred spirit and I cherish your friendship.
It is indeed humbling when we find that what we do matters to someone else. It makes life all the more worth the living!
It sure does, Denise! Thank you! I hope you are well. Merry Christmas to you!
Well done Bill means so little. As you said you are humbled by the thanks for your actions. I wish your correspondent well and you and yours all you wish yourselves.
Graham.
Thank you Graham! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas across the Pond!
Thank you Dora! Blessings to you always and a very Merry Christmas!