34 Comments
author

The Poll results so far are FASCINATING! Can you all see the results when you look at the post? Or is it just me who can see it because I created it?

Expand full comment
Jan 26, 2023Liked by Medha Murtagh

Why should you never fall in love with a tennis player...?

To them “love” means nothing.

Expand full comment

I had a similar reaction to your awesome friend.

My ideas/thoughts.

I definitely would appreciate a personal letter or email sent to me privately - preferably a letter! And if you felt good about sending a drawing, I would LOVE that. I'd frame it and probably send you a photo of me with it and encourage you to use that in your next article.

Howrver, I am writing from the perspective of someone who is not a paid subscriber and now that I circle back around to this, I remember some shame came up for me when I read you celebrating your new subscriber so joyously. I didn't want you to be so 'shouty', lol. I wanted you to put it as an afterthought at the end of your article, so I didn't have to feel my uncomfortable feelings all the way through reading your story and enjoying your fabulous cartoons. In truth, your articles are probably the best thing coming into my inbox right now...but being reminded that others are paying for your awesomeness and I am not touched some shame lurking inside me and I didn't want to feel that.

Expand full comment
Jan 26, 2023Liked by Medha Murtagh

I think you need to do what YOU feel is right. So cliché. You are going to have some subscribers that say hell yah shout out pls, feels good to be recognized, and others that want to turtle. You did it following what felt right for you, therefore UR vibe was behind your decision and action. I think Awesome Friend was able to show you the flip side (everything has one) and open ur eyes to subscribers that will feel the same. People can decide if being recognized is something that would hold them back from subscribing, and maybe this can now help them look at feelings like you just did, and ask why they wouldn’t want to be recognized for showing they love something and want to support another.

And as I reread this I am like maybe I shouldn’t send this it might sound like I am offending Awesome Friend. And that’s not my intention. My message I hope is, we simply can’t please everyone and when you decided to recognize ppl it opened ur heart, cause that’s how you felt ...follow that. ❤️

Expand full comment
Jan 26, 2023Liked by Medha Murtagh

BTW the cell phone drawing 😆😆😆👏🏼👍🏼

Expand full comment

I love the way you shared your process here. We are all such divine individuals and each of us has our own nervous system responses based on our individual experiences.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much!

Expand full comment

Trauma pocket drawing is the best, love love love it!

Poll is closed but maybe I’d have ticked first names as a safe bet if you don’t have capacity to email every paid sub to check.

I think I feel similar to one or two others above that gratitude for the paid subscribers would feel most lovely in quick email to the subscriber themselves if it’s feasible, but in the public newsletter it feels more like an encouragement that I should become a paid sub too (I know that’s not your intention, just how I felt reading it). Though it did also made me think “so cool lots of people are subscribing, what legends”, so overall it seems like a good thing to me if you can preserve the privacy of paid subs if they want it!

Expand full comment

Beautiful write the story. I like cartoons. I enjoyed reading.

Expand full comment

I loved this post. Thanks.

I am a bit conflicted about the naming thing too. I saw my first name in someone's blog just for subscribing (not paid) and I was startled. And felt a little shy and 'seen', and I wasn't even sure how I felt about that. So, I think there is a lot more to this 'naming thing' than seems obvious on first glance. Who woulda thought? It was clever of you (and your friend) to pick up on that. I loved the pocket drawing, but also the whole journey.

Cheers!

Expand full comment

My first thought when I read the name of this post was my favorite quote by Confucius, (loosely translated) "To know that you know what you know, and that you do not know what you do not know, is true knowledge."

I vote for publishing names of subscribers but asking them first if they want to opt out. I would go so far as to add that I write 'Legends of My Own Mind" if you want to post my name, as I shamelessly promote my newsletter. :-)

Expand full comment

The ‘pocket’ drawing omg. All of it Medha!! 🙌🙌🙌😍😍😍❤️🙏🙏🙏 Love this. I can see both sides, maybe once a week do a thank you and only post the initials? Or not at all. You’re going to get so big anyway you won’t be able to do that after a bit. Go you and your beautiful vulnerable soul and beautiful self expression. 💗💗💗

Expand full comment
Jan 26, 2023Liked by Medha Murtagh

Great newsletter as always Medha. It got me thinking. When you mentioned paid subscribers it didn't bother me at the time perhaps because this newsletter is new and growing and feels not so public. I've seen YouTubers do it when they have millions of views and I wouldn't become paid for this reason. It's even worse on Facebook when someone runs a course and then publically tags everyone who joined. Reason for my triggers is that I spent years in the closet hiding my interests and valuing my privacy in case someone in my family found out and questioned/judged/persecuted me. I still have pockets of fear around that. 😊 I voted don't name in your poll for this reason - as it's honestly how I personally feel now. Maybe when I've shifted it completely I'll feel otherwise. First name does feel like a happy balance of honouring people like me and people who love to be publically acknowledged (and for you to be able to show appreciation to them also). 😊

Expand full comment

You are most welcome!

Expand full comment