I spend a good portion of time each week exploring blog posts on WordPress. I start by going through the sites I follow on my Reader, and then, if I have time, I check in with the posts in different categories, like dogs, birds, memoir, knitting, recipes, etc. Part of it is just simple outreach, looking for other bloggers who might be interested in what I’m writing too, but a lot of it is an endless curiosity about other people.
“What about us?”
So when I came across a blog post that promised pictures of crafty handmade birds for the next thirty days, I decided to keep an eye on it. The blogger was sewing these elaborate stuffed birds, each with their own colorful personality, and I was charmed. After a while, out of the blue, I heard from the blogger herself, thanking me for my support and offering to make a bird just for me.
I was shocked! All I’d done was press like a few times, but her email reminded me that the small acts we do each day can have much bigger meaning in the world than we realize. I know that I have been impacted in big and small ways by the things other people have done, like smiling at me in the supermarket, or commenting on one of my blog posts, or posting a picture that breaks my heart or makes me laugh or just reminds me that I am not alone. We do these things every day, thinking we are such small actors in the world and it’s only meaningful to us, but I’m starting to realize that I can’t know what my impact on other people might be. And impacting even one person, even in a small way, feels wonderful!
My beautiful bird arrived last week and she has been acclimating to her new environment, and new housemates. Cricket and Ellie were fascinated by the look and smell (and taste) of her, so she flew back into her box for a little while until they calmed down. My bird’s creator is Susan Fae Haglund, by the way, and she’s on Instagram and WordPress and Etsy too, so please look out for her work.
“Hello everybody!”
Ellie is trying to say hello.
Cricket really likes the new bird in the house.
When I first started this blog I thought it was something I was supposed to do, to build my “platform” as a writer, but it has become something I need to do for myself, to feel connected to people who matter to me. The majority of the book sales for Yeshiva Girl have come through the blog and I feel endlessly grateful for that. I want all of you to know that every blog I follow has made an impact on me, and made my world bigger and brighter than I could have hoped.
Thank you!
The new bird is fitting in with the older guys.
Even Lambie’s on board!
If you haven’t had a chance yet, please check out my Young Adult novel, Yeshiva Girl, on Amazon. And if you feel called to write a review of the book, on Amazon, or anywhere else, I’d be honored.
Yeshiva Girl is about a Jewish teenager on Long Island, named Isabel, though her father calls her Jezebel. Her father has been accused of inappropriate sexual behavior with one of his students, which he denies, but Izzy implicitly believes it’s true. As a result of his problems, her father sends her to a co-ed Orthodox yeshiva for tenth grade, out of the blue, and Izzy and her mother can’t figure out how to prevent it. At Yeshiva, though, Izzy finds that religious people are much more complicated than she had expected. Some, like her father, may use religion as a place to hide, but others search for and find comfort, and community, and even enlightenment. The question is, what will Izzy find?
rachelmankowitz 
I love your new little bird! Did you make the other ones? (I think you have a larger impact on the world than you can possibly imagine.)
Thank you! The two knitted birds are from my stuffed-animal-knitting phase and they really seemed to like their new friend.
They are delightful! And yes, Rachel, you probably have a much larger impact on the world than you know!
Thank you!
Gorgeous work of art. Love your bird.
She does amazing work!
So beautiful ❤️
I love this! Small gestures reap nice rewards, especially when we aren’t expecting anything in return. I’m personally getting back to blogging and I wanted a fresh site/slate. So I started a new one but now everyone is starting to Like and Follow the *other* older site. 😄 It’s all good. Seriously positive stuff.
Good luck with all of it!
Such a nice post! Good idea to reach out to other blogger, out of your ‘usual’ nice.
Thank you!
A positive view of life in a sometimes dismal world; always refreshing.
I hope so!
Your bird is so cool Rachel!
It really is!!! Thank you!
Small acts of kindness have a way of making somebody’s day. And we don’t know what they are going through and how that small act can help them through the day. Ps love the bird.
Me too!!!
Thank you for visiting, Rachel. It’s always exciting for me when people drop by. I love that little bird, and your dogs are adorable. My pooch is never interested in toys — just food.
Thank you! My Ellie is thorough food-driven, she’d jump off a building for a piece of chicken, so I have to be careful with her.
“And impacting even one person, even in a small way, feels wonderful!” Rachel
“And God said, Let there be light; and there was light.” Genesis 1:3
One Word, and the LORD can transform the Reality, for Good or Evil.
Those who have Faith understand that “little or much,” “minimum and maximum,” to the LORD are the Same, so the details are as important as the whole because the Most High God is One: Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient.
I have learned to ask Him: Guide and Relevance to align with His Truth, which I trust and search to understand, practice, and perfect.
Blogging, I seek identification, interpretation, elaboration, timing. That way I can share something good that can feed me and others from different places and realities.
As you said, even something small can be the attitude or message which someone needs.
Grateful for reading your blog, and your presence in pet is love!! is welcome and very thankful, Rachel!
Note: I like English but I don’t know the language, I use translator google and proofreader; it’s quite playful and I like it. And I edit what I write as many times as necessary, correcting even the best I can get. Although, comments, WordPress does not allow editing at pages of other users.
Thank you!!!
Blessings!
I like you and I’m ordering your book this morning. Thanks for the pictures, by the way.
Thank you so much!!!
Very cute
Thank you!
Beautiful writing and images
Thank you so much!
Loved your article it not only has a great message but wonderful pictures to go along with it.
Thank you!