What stayed with me was not the scam but the recognition of how easily hope can fill the gaps when something touches a longing we already carry. I think most writers understand that. We spend so much time sending words into silence that the possibility of being truly seen can feel almost miraculous when it appears. What impressed me was your observation that scammers sell emotions rather than products. Recognition, belonging, possibility... those are powerful currencies because they are tied to very human needs. Perhaps the real lesson is not that we should stop wanting validation. It is that we should learn to distinguish between validation and connection. One can be manufactured. The other cannot. Thank you for the thoughtful reflection.
Well said. Hope has a way of filling the spaces where longing lives. That's why recognition feels so powerful to writers we spend so much time speaking into the silence, hoping our words find a home.
I think that may be why genuine connection feels so different when it happens. Recognition tells us we have been noticed. Connection tells us we have been understood. One can arrive quickly. The other usually takes time, attention, and a willingness to meet another person where they are. Perhaps that is why it is so much rarer, and so much more valuable when we find it.
I think you’re right. Hope can make us vulnerable, especially when something speaks to a dream we’ve carried for a long time. That’s why gratitude felt like the better lesson. Thank you for your kind words. ❤️🙏🤗✌️
"The goal was never approval. The goal was connection" really struck me here, John. I'm so grateful you laid this out, because the whole intrinsic motivation versus external validation has always been an internal battle for me. Still is. I am coming to understand that there will never be "enough" validation for me, and that's why I'm working on accepting that where I am right now is exactly where I'm supposed to be.
Jeannie, that realization is a powerful one. External validation is never fully satisfied, but acceptance brings a kind of peace that approval never can.
Bravo John 👏 Your focus on what matters is always spot on. Sadly , in my experiance scammers work in pods of people , you have likely not heard the last of them.
John, so sorry that you had to experience this. So sorry that the elderly are so targeted. So sorry this exists in the world giving us another reason to be guarded, not to trust. With advanced AI this is getting worse and worse, more frequent. It is going to be closer to real bc little by little it is chipping away at our instinct, our perception of what is real and what is fake. Scammers sell you emotion. This is the scariest part. Making ourselves vulnrrable, trusting iis risky. But even scarier is the alternative - having to watch our backs, analyze and doubt every written word, every image, every phone call. Doubting everything and everyone. It is scary to think that we must close ourselves off as protection. Closed, guarded - not ways to live, not the way to promote the health of vital energy, to build community. Only trust can do this. So what do we do? What do we do? - I am thinking deeply about this. For now, sending you love. Reminding you that you are incredible.
I’ve had at least 100 emails that keep coming, where scammers so-called admired my book (one where scammer used a well known authors name. I found this authors Facebook page and posted my link etc on her page. I received no reaction from her-maybe a phony name listing.
It is truly disheartening how prevalent these scams have become. I wish there were a more effective way for email platforms to automatically flag or filter out these fraudulent messages so we wouldn't have to deal with them at all.
Me, too. They really started hitting hard after I turned 78. .. so I write because it's why I'm here. Perhaps what I've done will be seen in 100 years or later. I keep hoping for now. But that's not why I write. What I do comes from the soul. And it's who I am.
My off-the-cuff personal writing. (My books write themselves, from the soul, now that writing is truly eloquent. My higher self does all my best writing. :)
thats funny! i had the same thought! like maybe i needed to feel this for a moment. the possibilities! the excitement! the range of experience in one moment can be vast.
I just wrote a little note on my page and this is the first thing I see trying to catch up with what I have missed from my favorite people on here. I think I have made it abundantly clear but it's always worth another say...your writing and your character are an inspiration to me and truly helpful on my journey ✌️
In our optimism, and belief in our work, we face many who choose to take advantage. It's hard. I've encountered many since 2019. I also keep doing what is at my core to do. Because it's a spiritual purpose. It's a purpose - that guides my every day. Thank you, John. Again for your impeccable writing.
What stayed with me was not the scam but the recognition of how easily hope can fill the gaps when something touches a longing we already carry. I think most writers understand that. We spend so much time sending words into silence that the possibility of being truly seen can feel almost miraculous when it appears. What impressed me was your observation that scammers sell emotions rather than products. Recognition, belonging, possibility... those are powerful currencies because they are tied to very human needs. Perhaps the real lesson is not that we should stop wanting validation. It is that we should learn to distinguish between validation and connection. One can be manufactured. The other cannot. Thank you for the thoughtful reflection.
Well said. Hope has a way of filling the spaces where longing lives. That's why recognition feels so powerful to writers we spend so much time speaking into the silence, hoping our words find a home.
I think that may be why genuine connection feels so different when it happens. Recognition tells us we have been noticed. Connection tells us we have been understood. One can arrive quickly. The other usually takes time, attention, and a willingness to meet another person where they are. Perhaps that is why it is so much rarer, and so much more valuable when we find it.
Beautifully said, Sara. Recognition lets us know we've been seen. Connection lets us know we've been understood.
Thank you John.
🙏🤗✌️
I was going to write a longer thoughtful post and then read yours and couldn't agree more with everything you said.
I think sometimes people fall for scams because they want to believe. ✨💫
Miracles are real and sometimes dreams do come true. It's too bad we have to be so careful.
I love how you flipped it to a place of gratitude. Thank you for sharing your story. 🙏😎❤️
I think you’re right. Hope can make us vulnerable, especially when something speaks to a dream we’ve carried for a long time. That’s why gratitude felt like the better lesson. Thank you for your kind words. ❤️🙏🤗✌️
"The goal was never approval. The goal was connection" really struck me here, John. I'm so grateful you laid this out, because the whole intrinsic motivation versus external validation has always been an internal battle for me. Still is. I am coming to understand that there will never be "enough" validation for me, and that's why I'm working on accepting that where I am right now is exactly where I'm supposed to be.
Jeannie, that realization is a powerful one. External validation is never fully satisfied, but acceptance brings a kind of peace that approval never can.
You said that good. I agree how you said it. 😆🤣🤪
“Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.” — Cyril Connolly
That's a great quote, Tom. In the end, the challenge is staying true to yourself while still sharing your stories with the world. 😆📚
Bravo John 👏 Your focus on what matters is always spot on. Sadly , in my experiance scammers work in pods of people , you have likely not heard the last of them.
Nope not at all… more will come!
God bless and protect you 🙏
Thank you as well… peace within
Glad you trusted your intuition, it’s there for a reason - if something feels off it usually is.
Exactly
Hey John completely agree with all your points 🙂↕️🙂↕️🙂↕️
That’s exactly what scammers understand.
They don’t sell products.
They sell emotions.
Hope.
Recognition.
Belonging.
Possibility.
The same emotions every creative person wrestles with.
These lines are so very accurate John 👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿👆🏿
Thanks for sharing 🙏🏿
💜☮️💜☮️
John, so sorry that you had to experience this. So sorry that the elderly are so targeted. So sorry this exists in the world giving us another reason to be guarded, not to trust. With advanced AI this is getting worse and worse, more frequent. It is going to be closer to real bc little by little it is chipping away at our instinct, our perception of what is real and what is fake. Scammers sell you emotion. This is the scariest part. Making ourselves vulnrrable, trusting iis risky. But even scarier is the alternative - having to watch our backs, analyze and doubt every written word, every image, every phone call. Doubting everything and everyone. It is scary to think that we must close ourselves off as protection. Closed, guarded - not ways to live, not the way to promote the health of vital energy, to build community. Only trust can do this. So what do we do? What do we do? - I am thinking deeply about this. For now, sending you love. Reminding you that you are incredible.
I’ve had at least 100 emails that keep coming, where scammers so-called admired my book (one where scammer used a well known authors name. I found this authors Facebook page and posted my link etc on her page. I received no reaction from her-maybe a phony name listing.
It is truly disheartening how prevalent these scams have become. I wish there were a more effective way for email platforms to automatically flag or filter out these fraudulent messages so we wouldn't have to deal with them at all.
Me, too. They really started hitting hard after I turned 78. .. so I write because it's why I'm here. Perhaps what I've done will be seen in 100 years or later. I keep hoping for now. But that's not why I write. What I do comes from the soul. And it's who I am.
Beautifully said.
My off-the-cuff personal writing. (My books write themselves, from the soul, now that writing is truly eloquent. My higher self does all my best writing. :)
🙏🤗✌️
Yes, John, I’ve had several similar emails, quoting from my books, sounding so genuinely sincere.
My latest was from a Seattle book club, so it really did seem very possible. But no!
Takes a few read-throughs! Then, the just “too perfect, too complimentary” as you referred to, sinks in.
Feeds our ego for a minute—then it’s a big sigh of relief when we don’t fall for it!
Gosh I get this. I'm sorry you went through that. I've been in the same position.
No worries for a moment; it was pleasant to think about the possibilities. 🙏🤗✌️
thats funny! i had the same thought! like maybe i needed to feel this for a moment. the possibilities! the excitement! the range of experience in one moment can be vast.
🤣…. Sometimes you need to smile and just say yes. That was a great feeling, and be thankful and move on.
Oh WoW
I just wrote a little note on my page and this is the first thing I see trying to catch up with what I have missed from my favorite people on here. I think I have made it abundantly clear but it's always worth another say...your writing and your character are an inspiration to me and truly helpful on my journey ✌️
Michelle, thank you. I'm grateful our paths crossed here. ❤️✌️
In our optimism, and belief in our work, we face many who choose to take advantage. It's hard. I've encountered many since 2019. I also keep doing what is at my core to do. Because it's a spiritual purpose. It's a purpose - that guides my every day. Thank you, John. Again for your impeccable writing.
Thank you. Purpose keeps us moving forward. When writing comes from the soul, we keep showing up despite the obstacles. ❤️
Yes. And clearly you do, too. Very talented :)
If you followed up you would enter part one of a scam.