You Never Know What Might Matter

A few years ago I used to run Caption This contests on Haunt Jaunts. The other day I got an email from a man who used to frequently enter…and win.

At least in theory. He lived in Australia and never wanted the prizes. He was happy just knowing I got a kick out of his captions.

Anyway, he asked if I wouldn’t mind sharing a post he’d written about Friday the 13th: Do You Feel (un)Lucky?

I wasn’t able to share it until Saturday, because somehow I never made it around to really checking emails on Friday. (Still trying to figure out where my Friday went. I think I was busy doing things I shouldn’t have been doing…meaning not writing.)

Anyway, I let him know I was happy to hear from him and that I had been delighted to share his post.

The Reply

Then he wrote me back this:

Thank you massively for the share.

This is gonna sound a bit forward but I’m going to put my natural shyness to the side for one moment and ask if you would consider following my blog  SCENIC WRITER’S SHACK.

https://goosefleshsite.wordpress.com/

I post once a week on a Friday and if I was to try to think up a reason to follow I would say it might give you a little insight to how an Aussie views the world.

Looking back at those caption comps you used to run, I don’t think it’s any stretch for me to say those couple of wins I had plus all the other times you gave me compliments re my entries helped me along the path to believing in myself as an aspiring penman enough to take the plunge in starting up my own blog (which has now been running 16 months).

It’s that last paragraph in particular that prompted me to write this post.

He’s really talented and always came up with clever tales for the photos I’d use for the contest. I could’ve just thanked him for his entries and left it at that.

But you know what? This makes me proud of my past self that I took the time to let someone know why I admired their work.

Words: Powerful Magic

It matters, folks. You never know what you might say that might influence someone. (Either in a good or bad way.)

So choose your words wisely.

We’re so quick to gripe about the bad, but if something or someone really delights you for whatever reason –be it you admire their creativity or sense of style, their sense of humor or whatever it might be– tell them. For heaven’s sake take the time to let them know.

I had no idea back then that I was helping to encourage someone to follow their authentic passions and talents.

But look. It came back around and he delighted me in return.

The Circle

Because let me share what else he said:

If you decide not to follow Courtney, no problem. I think a person in your position must get a lot of these type of requests.

A person in my position?

Oh dear. Like I told him, the only position I usually find myself in is behind trying to catch up.

P.S. 

Even without him appealing to my ego, I followed his blog. Happy to. Liked what I saw.