I had a really cool moment over the weekend that I felt needed to be shared with my readers.
Many times, I feel like I’m writing into a void. Some of my posts get a lot of traction and generate conversations but there are some (fewer than there were) where I get no reaction and no response. It can be a struggle sometimes to keep writing and think that there is a reason I’m doing this, a reason I sit at my computer every weekend and plan out the week.
This weekend I went to a family birthday party. Due to late-in-life births and large differences in age, my dad’s cousin’s husband (my cousin-once-removed-in-law) turned 90 and we celebrated by gathering at a local restaurant. My husband and I arrived late due to another commitment but excited to see the birthday boy, who we haven’t seen in almost five years.
I know that’s how long it’s been because the last time I visited Tom I wrote about it. Tom published his memoir a number of years ago and is working on a second one. He is Armenian and repatriated to Armenia to help with nation building only to be trapped behind the Iron Curtain. I wrote a post about visiting him at his home in Northern Michigan and talking with him about his career. Again, it felt like writing into a void, even more so then than now with my blog has gained some traction.
At the party, Tom took me aside. He said that he’d been contacted by someone who read my blog post. This woman was Turkish and wanted to apologize to him, an Armenian, for what her countrymen had done to the Armenians as part of the Armenian Genocide. Tom was very moved and reassured this woman that she did not owe him an apology for something her grandparents’ generation had done. He wanted to let me know that my post had given this woman a way of contacting him and expressing such profound sorrow.
I’ve been reflecting on this interaction for a few days now. I feel so touched that someone was able to find Tom through my blog. It’s good to know that what I do on this site can impact people and can have a meaning in the physical world. Even if it feels like I’m writing into a void, it’s one that can mean something as profound as an apology.
Until next time, write on.
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Taking On a World of Words 
That’s a great experience to have come out of a blog post! Thanks for sharing it with all of us, as well. This is an important reminder that words can be so powerful.
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Thanks! It was really good to hear that my words can make a difference. Happy reading!
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Connections made via a blog are an amazing thing, you never know who is reading and what impact you are making that’s so true, I’ve had some incredible experiences that have come about because of my interactions on my blog, I love that this came about for Tom.
It’s also interesting as I just finished reading a book this morning by a Turkish author called ‘The Other Side of the Mountain’ by Erendiz Atasu, translated into English, in its original version it won a prestigious literary prize, but it’s about the lives of three generations of a family growing up in Turkey and how each generation’s perceptions are different, depending on whether or not they had to flee, there is an Armenian connection, a Macedonian connection, there are sons who joined the army and the young women who were sent by the govt to England to be educated, part of the campaign to lift the status of the country, there is the generation that revered Ataturk and the generation that wondered why. In the novel she enters the minds of various family members and their debates with each other and ultimately its inconclusive, because each generation is affected by their own personal experience and past and it’s like there is no possibility for them all to be on the same page.
Tom is right about current generations not being responsible for the actions of previous generations, it seems all generations suffered, and some continue to today. It is good for us to try and understand a little of the complexities, in order to have compassion and understanding, it’s so great Tom is sharing his story and revisiting the lost homeland with his family, so they too can make a connection with the past.
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I’m glad you’re familiar with the history between Turkey and Armenia. I was mostly ignorant until Tom shared his story with me. I’m glad this bit of history is getting more attention and I’m glad it’s making people think about the impact today that the actions of previous generations have had. Happy reading!
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That is a lovely story. Thank you for sharing it!
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You’re welcome! It made my day. Happy reading!
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What a wonderful story. Blog connections can be really great.
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Very! I’m glad to have made it. Happy reading!
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Wow, that’s awesome! I think sometimes it takes a while to figure out what our purpose for blogging can be. That’s awesome that you connected two people! 🙂
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Thank you! I still struggle with writing sometimes but moments like this spur me forward. Happy reading!
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Aww love this, Sam! ♡ That’s truly inspiring that she found him through your blog!
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Thank you! I think Tom appreciated it more than I did. Happy reading!
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Wow, this was pretty powerful and how sweet is that she felt she needed to do this. Never underestimate the power of the written word. If nothing else it gives you an outlet. Keep on writing! Im new to your blog but I’ve been reading some past posts and have really enjoyed them.
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Thank you so much! It’s easy to focus on those that have come and gone and forget those who have recently come. Happy reading!
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That’s a lovely story, thanks for sharing 🙂 I totally relate to the “writing into a void” feeling too, which always makes it more satisfying when you see ripples out there, though my instances have been smaller than this.
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This is the first one I can remember so it’s really hit me hard. It’s making the void seem much smaller. Happy reading!
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Wow, thanks for sharing. You never know what affect our words, both written and spoken, have on others. Bravo for touching lives.
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Thank you! I’m glad I was able to do something for Tom. Happy reading!
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Oh wow! That’s so awesome!
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Thank you! I was really touched. Happy reading!
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Lovely posYou never know where the seeds you sow will bloom and be harvested.
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Yes! And thank you very much.
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