If a tree falls in the forest and there’s no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?
If you make bread and no one eats it, does it have flavour?
Do you make your bed on days you know no one else will see it?
I’ve been writing these Thursday thoughts for over two years now.
If you read them regularly, you know they’re as much for me as they are for anyone else.
A weekly date with myself to observe life, find the meaning and practice sharing it. Big revelations and nothings I find something in. This week, I almost wrote about the food bits hanging around in the kitchen sink drain.
Thankfully, a better story found me before I dove into a rant about why people do the dishes and still refuse to clean the drain. I’ll save that for my kids.
One evening about a year ago, I’m on the couch about to check out of the day and into Netflix. One eye on the TV, the other on my phone. The topic, our emails. No idea what made it important enough to disturb Ozark, but there we were.
What is our open rate anyway?
I brace myself. What if no one, other than my parents, reads this thing? What if this is just me making the bed in an empty room?
I’d do it anyway. That was the last time I checked open rates.
Last Thursday I woke up on vacation.
Do you write your weekly email on vacation? You have every reason to skip a week.
Nope. There’s a story in there.
Me and my laptop hike to the third floor of this giant beach house. Hop on the bed. Write the email. Close the laptop. Go shopping.
I’m halfway through pretending I need another white shirt when an email pops into my inbox. It’s about the One Thing I wrote just hours before.
At first, I assumed someone was replying to me about my Thursday topic. The events are familiar. Except I don’t recognize any of the names. Who’s Cody? And…I never went to Wendy’s wedding.
Then I realized. This email wasn’t for me. They were talking about Mary and her insights.
I’m Mary. Who is this?
My sister says something from the next rack over. Right. I’m here to shop.
But now I’m distracted. Who is this person? And why are they talking to someone else about my Thursday email?
A minute later, another email lands in my inbox.
An apology.
She accidentally forwarded me a note that was meant for her brother. They live thousands of miles apart and talk every week about life, work, family, and my One Thing.
Wait. What?
You mean it’s not just my mom reading this? Complete strangers. Kindred spirits.
And this is the gift. Putting something into the world with no expectation (well, I do think my husband should read it). And hearing that two people out in the world look forward to it every week. And took the time to share that with me.
I have a friend who signs off his emails with:
Thanks for the gift of your attention.
And that has never felt more true than this week.
Bake the bread.
Paint the picture.
Make your bed.
Sometimes the most meaningful things you do happen long before you know whether they mattered.
I know at least two people will read this today.
And that feels like enough.
Thanks for the gift of your attention.
New to One Thing Thursdays?
Each week, I share something I’m learning, living, or working out in real time. It’s part storytelling, part reflection. I hope there’s something in it for you too.
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