Love you back, Con. And your recommendation of my writing has certainly helped boost subscribers, for which I am ever grateful. By the way, I'm getting great reviews of Sherrod's and your appearances and talks from my Dayton peeps!
What an inspiring post today, Maura. I hope the editor you spent time with kept in touch and shared her successes. And thanks for the birding tip. My new hearing aids are bringing me many songs I’ve been missing. It will be fun to identify them.
Katharine, thank you for reading! The Merlin app is fabulous. I have always craved an easy way to figure out birdsongs since I don't have good vision. Now I know! Highly recommend.
And now I just identified the Northern Mockingbird—at least that’s what the app is hearing. My eyes are too bad to see the bird itself. But I could hear it in the house and so could Merlin. Amazing!
Maura, WOW! A prefect piece! I cannot count the number of times I attended a conference, either as a presenter or as an attendee when I either I had an audience of one or was the audience of one. Some of the best and most meaningful experiences have been sitting in the audience all alone. Then standing up, walking to the front of the room, and sitting across the head table from the speaker having the best conversation and a truly amazing learning experience.
I think your article should be shared with all new teachers, researchers, and any person who might find themselves in that situation.
I think I might share your story with friends and colleagues who are still in the game.
Thought you would like to read what my associate Dean wrote in response to me sharing your story.
Her name is Dr. Deborah Murray.
“This is a very common experience, just no one wants to admit such experiences as we internalize it as a failure. This article should be required for anyone preparing a presentation that is not required attendance. I was always shocked by the empty seats at large conferences that attract 1,000+ people. I used to speak to large conferences that were required for continuing education in medical fields, legal fields, as well as extension and outreach. It doesn't matter the audience. They sign in and skip out. I once had a county judge in Kentucky sign up for a required training. He showed up and signed in and then left after lunch and didn't show up the next day. Unfortunately for him, I had to sign a certification form confirming his attendance. He had the gall to call me and ask me to do that. He didn't know me very well. I would much rather have a small group who wanted to be there than required "inmates." Fortunately, he was the anomaly.”
An audience of one IS a BIG deal. It still produces a ripple effect cascading ahead in time and ways we rarely learn about. It's an ode to the connectivity and positivity that we don't hear about as often as we should. Maura, your ripples are merging into big beautiful waves right here on Casey's Catch.
I read most every one of your articles on this platform. I often forget to hit the like button or comment, but your writing inspires me and shines a light on important topics. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself!
Oh Maura, it seems sone sort of divine intervention happened that day to free you to help someone in need of your expertise! Thank you for sharing this special moment with us.
With your book in the works - yay! for that! - I'd like to put in a plug for a copy editor (yes, I'm all too well aware that's not a thing anymore). I just finished an otherwise-engaging novel that included clunkers like "flaming the fans of rumor". And I gotta say, that one will stay with me far longer than the story...
I was introduced to Merlin about 4 years ago and just love it. At the time we were living in a small town near the border to Canada. 2+ years ago we moved to the greater Bangor area to be closer to our daughter and her family, and of course, our two granddaughters. I hear different birds here than at our old home, and love to watch them from our deck and let Merlin identify new birdsongs. For my last birthday my daughter gave me a bird feeder that’s WiFi connected, so I can even watch the birds as they land on it. It’s been so much fun, but I quickly learned that I had to turn off the notifications because it was almost constantly chirping at me, all day long! Drove me nuts!! Thanks for your lovely words, Maura.
Small audiences in music too mean a lot, filled usually with listeners who care and share their own stories. Congrats on the upcoming book! So exciting!
I heard you speak at Okoboji Writers Retreat in 2023 and enjoyed listening to your voice in person and later on the page through Substack. I look for your name daily in my email. It's not only your voice but your point of view and the settings/situations you describe. Relatable and inspiring every time.
I wait for your column every week. Aside from what you actually write about in each on, you bring back so many people, places, events, times...an endless number of things that I never want to forget. Missing you from Ft. Myers, FL, Mindy
We were untouched by H. Helene. My brother sent me 8 messages in 16 minutes urging us to evacuate prior to H. Milton. IDK what we will do. My Dad will do best w/things, places & people that are familiar to him. I suspect we will follow the advice of his Assisted Living facility.
I am so grateful for you, friend, and for all that you do to make Substack more interesting. Love you.
Love you back, Con. And your recommendation of my writing has certainly helped boost subscribers, for which I am ever grateful. By the way, I'm getting great reviews of Sherrod's and your appearances and talks from my Dayton peeps!
You’ve given so much more to us than we’ve given to you. Thank you, Maura
Nah! I appreciate anyone who listens to my rants, including you, Carol!
What an inspiring post today, Maura. I hope the editor you spent time with kept in touch and shared her successes. And thanks for the birding tip. My new hearing aids are bringing me many songs I’ve been missing. It will be fun to identify them.
Katharine, thank you for reading! The Merlin app is fabulous. I have always craved an easy way to figure out birdsongs since I don't have good vision. Now I know! Highly recommend.
Already installed free app from Cornell. What a great gift.
And now I just identified the Northern Mockingbird—at least that’s what the app is hearing. My eyes are too bad to see the bird itself. But I could hear it in the house and so could Merlin. Amazing!
Maura, WOW! A prefect piece! I cannot count the number of times I attended a conference, either as a presenter or as an attendee when I either I had an audience of one or was the audience of one. Some of the best and most meaningful experiences have been sitting in the audience all alone. Then standing up, walking to the front of the room, and sitting across the head table from the speaker having the best conversation and a truly amazing learning experience.
I think your article should be shared with all new teachers, researchers, and any person who might find themselves in that situation.
I think I might share your story with friends and colleagues who are still in the game.
Please share! So important to be able to realize that the size of an audience is not the measure of our self-worth.
Thought you would like to read what my associate Dean wrote in response to me sharing your story.
Her name is Dr. Deborah Murray.
“This is a very common experience, just no one wants to admit such experiences as we internalize it as a failure. This article should be required for anyone preparing a presentation that is not required attendance. I was always shocked by the empty seats at large conferences that attract 1,000+ people. I used to speak to large conferences that were required for continuing education in medical fields, legal fields, as well as extension and outreach. It doesn't matter the audience. They sign in and skip out. I once had a county judge in Kentucky sign up for a required training. He showed up and signed in and then left after lunch and didn't show up the next day. Unfortunately for him, I had to sign a certification form confirming his attendance. He had the gall to call me and ask me to do that. He didn't know me very well. I would much rather have a small group who wanted to be there than required "inmates." Fortunately, he was the anomaly.”
Just did. Already folks are replying, they agree with you. And some faculty and trainers are saying they will share it with students.
I love your writing. I have been reading for about 6 months. I eagerly await your words each week. Thank you.
Thank you, Anita! That means a lot
to me.
An audience of one IS a BIG deal. It still produces a ripple effect cascading ahead in time and ways we rarely learn about. It's an ode to the connectivity and positivity that we don't hear about as often as we should. Maura, your ripples are merging into big beautiful waves right here on Casey's Catch.
I read most every one of your articles on this platform. I often forget to hit the like button or comment, but your writing inspires me and shines a light on important topics. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself!
Thank you, Dale! I have appreciated your comments when you express an opinion and always am grateful that you take the time to read my rants!
Oh Maura, it seems sone sort of divine intervention happened that day to free you to help someone in need of your expertise! Thank you for sharing this special moment with us.
With your book in the works - yay! for that! - I'd like to put in a plug for a copy editor (yes, I'm all too well aware that's not a thing anymore). I just finished an otherwise-engaging novel that included clunkers like "flaming the fans of rumor". And I gotta say, that one will stay with me far longer than the story...
A good copy editor is worth his or her weight in diamonds!
I was introduced to Merlin about 4 years ago and just love it. At the time we were living in a small town near the border to Canada. 2+ years ago we moved to the greater Bangor area to be closer to our daughter and her family, and of course, our two granddaughters. I hear different birds here than at our old home, and love to watch them from our deck and let Merlin identify new birdsongs. For my last birthday my daughter gave me a bird feeder that’s WiFi connected, so I can even watch the birds as they land on it. It’s been so much fun, but I quickly learned that I had to turn off the notifications because it was almost constantly chirping at me, all day long! Drove me nuts!! Thanks for your lovely words, Maura.
Looking forward to the release of your new book SAVING ELLEN.
Thank you, Jill! I will write more about this experience in future columns. Nerve-wracking, to say the least!
Small audiences in music too mean a lot, filled usually with listeners who care and share their own stories. Congrats on the upcoming book! So exciting!
Thank you, Pat!
I heard you speak at Okoboji Writers Retreat in 2023 and enjoyed listening to your voice in person and later on the page through Substack. I look for your name daily in my email. It's not only your voice but your point of view and the settings/situations you describe. Relatable and inspiring every time.
Oh, Deba, that means so much! Thank you. I had planned to go this year but at the last minute I could not. Next year, I hope!
I wait for your column every week. Aside from what you actually write about in each on, you bring back so many people, places, events, times...an endless number of things that I never want to forget. Missing you from Ft. Myers, FL, Mindy
Thank you, Mindy! Did you get damage from the hurricane? Hope not!
We were untouched by H. Helene. My brother sent me 8 messages in 16 minutes urging us to evacuate prior to H. Milton. IDK what we will do. My Dad will do best w/things, places & people that are familiar to him. I suspect we will follow the advice of his Assisted Living facility.
I am grateful to be in your reading audience.
I am grateful for you, always, Margaret!
What a cool story and experience. Thank you.