I always remember this part of a comment I got on the 4th piece I ever published on Medium:

"I printed out your “Five Qualities You Need in A Partner,” gave it to my husband to read, and invited him out for dinner to talk about it."

This was the first comment that really made me realize that I could sit at my desk and connect with people I didn't know through the power of words. It gave me hope that I could positively affect others' lives, maybe I could even help. And it made me decide that as long as I reach one person in a significant way with each thing I write then I never have to doubt that the effort is worthwhile, regardless of how much or how little each one generates.