Sometimes It’s Just Nice to Be Seen
Showing a little appreciation might be the most underrated power move in life.
I get asked a lot of questions. Every day. On every platform. From beauty questions, career advice, business advice, you name it. And don’t get me wrong…I love that. I’ve built my career around educating, sharing, and being open. It’s what I chose to do, and it fulfils me in a way nothing else does. I’m constantly learning, evolving, and trying to give back what I’ve learnt. But sometimes…it can feel like people forget there’s a human behind the content.
It’s as if the expectation is that I’ll have an answer for everything, all the time, instantly…and that I should somehow always be on. Sometimes the questions are pretty simple, but sometimes they’re so specific, so layered, that I can’t possibly give the time or depth they deserve without sacrificing something else. And honestly, it can get a bit overwhelming. I’ll open my DMs on Instagram, check my comments on YouTube, TikTok and Substack and it’s back-to-back requests. It starts to feel like everyone’s pulling from me, and I don’t always have the capacity to give.
But then randomly one message will stop me in my tracks.
“I don’t want to ask you anything…I just want to say thank you.”
“You helped me feel confident again.”
“I’ve been following you for years and you’ve taught me so much, I just wanted to say I appreciate you.”
And all of a sudden, I can take a deep breath. It reminds me that what I do does make a difference, even when people aren’t saying it out loud all the time. These small, appreciation messages mean the world to me. The only way I can describe it is that when you’re constantly creating, teaching, supporting, and giving…it can end up feeling like your tank is running low…constantly.
But it also got me thinking about how this isn’t just about me, or even just about content creators or public figures. It’s about all of us.
We live in a world that’s so focused on solving the next problem that we forget to stop and appreciate the people around us who quietly show up for us every single day. It could be your colleague who’s always staying late, your friend who checks in even when you forget to reply, the barista who remembers your order, your partner who picks up the slack when you’re too drained to cook or talk…these people are constantly giving something of themselves. And how often do we actually stop and tell them that we appreciate them? I know I’m guilty of not doing it enough.
The truth is, being appreciated…even if it is quietly…makes people feel valued. And people who feel valued show up better. They’re more efficient, more motivated, more creative, more driven. Not because they’re chasing some kind of validation, but because they feel seen. Sometimes that’s all you need to fill your tank up again.
So this is my gentle nudge to you (and to myself too):
Send that thank you message.
Let someone know when they’ve made a difference, no matter how small.
Send someone a morning message hoping that they have a good day.
You don’t have to overthink it. A quick, short message might change someone’s whole day. And I can say that confidently, because I’ve felt it….mostly from strangers.
So to those of you who have ever sent a message with no ask to me…just love and gratitude….I see you too. You’ve reminded me of my why in moments where I really needed it. And if you’re someone who’s ever watched something I’ve shared, read something I’ve written, or tried a technique I’ve showcased and felt better because of it…you’re the reason I keep going.
Sometimes… it’s just nice to be seen. And we all deserve that.
Book Of The Month: The Housemaids Secret
You know when you finish a book and you just can’t stop thinking about it? That was me after reading The Housemaid by Freida McFadden. I was obsessed. So obviously, I had to read the second book…The Housemaid’s Secret, and to be honest, I didn’t think it would live up to the first one, but it 100% held its own.
This is so true! Recognition is so important, it fuels us to keep going.
I’ve learned so much from you that now my friends ask me for makeup advice! It means your lessons are working. I just wish I’d come across your YouTube channel during the pandemic when I got married. Now when I look back at my wedding photos and how badly I slapped on my makeup I laugh! But now I know how to do it so much better thanks to you 💕💕
Awe. If I learned anything in life is that we should all feel appreciated and loved. We don’t have much time here. This is our vacation before we go home so I say appreciate everything and everyone. Appreciate the good times and bad because the bad times are our lessons to grow stronger. Who has ever learned anything from having just good times. I learned that suffering should also be appreciated. It gives us strength for the next one, hopefully.