The Beauty of Recognizing Each Other’s Work

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We often think that academic life is made of grand gestures: major grants, keynote speeches, publications in prestigious journals. But some of the most powerful moments are the smallest ones. An email. A message. A short note that says: “I just read your piece, and I loved it.”

In a world where so much of our labor goes unnoticed, these moments of recognition matter deeply. They cut through the noise of deadlines, metrics, and imposter syndrome. They remind us why we write, why we research, why we teach in the first place. Not for applause, but for meaningful impact.

I’ve been on both ends of that email. I’ve received a short note from someone I admire, telling me they read one of my papers and that it meant something to them. That single paragraph stayed with me far longer than a citation ever could. It landed in my inbox on a tough week and pulled me out of a fog. It reminded me that my work reached someone, that it resonated.

And I’ve sent those emails too. Sometimes awkwardly, sometimes hesitantly. But every time, I’ve been met with gratitude and kindness.

It costs us nothing to say: “Your work made me think.” Or: “That paragraph hit me in the gut in the best way.”

These are not empty compliments. They are powerful reminders that someone is listening and engaging with our ideas.

So here’s a gentle nudge: if someone’s work moved you, please tell them. Even if you don’t know them personally. Even if you think they’re too “big” to care what you think. (Spoiler alert: they aren’t.)

Let’s make it a habit to recognize each other—not just with awards and formal acknowledgments, but with genuine, heartfelt notes of appreciation. Academia can be a tough space. Let’s soften its edges with small acts of kindness and recognition.

You never know the kind of day someone is having. Your words might be exactly what they need to keep going.