The joy of 'Saw this and thought of you'

Literary legend has it that one day, out for lunch at the Algonquin Hotel, Ernest Hemingway bet a table full of prolific writers that he could write a good story in just 6 words. They had their doubts, they placed their $10 bets, and he hit them with what has now become a famed example of the power of words (‘For sale: baby shoes, never worn’). Since then, it’s become a famous prompt for writers, seeing who can fit the most emotion into just six words. My offering to the party is not only the best six word story, but also, I think, some of the best six words you can ever hear:

“Saw this and thought of you!”

Let’s break it down.

When it’s well-intentioned, it’s always nice to know that someone’s thinking of you, to know that you’ve made a lasting impression on someone beyond your interaction with them. Sure, they might not be lying on their pink duvet 90s rom com style, fluffy pen in hand, twirling a strand of hair whilst they think about their undying love for you - I mean, they might be, you seem pretty great to me - but just knowing that what you said or did warranted more of their attention long after you’re not around them any more is a warming feeling. It’s evidence of you being really seen and truly heard. That’s why I think it counts within the story remit set out by Hemingway (or folklore) back in the day: sure, it’s a statement, an opener, a relaying of facts. But it also says so much more.

What’s even nicer is knowing that someone thinks they know what you like, so much so that seeing something related to that topic brings you to the forefront of their mind. More often than not, when we’ve sent a “Saw this and thought of you!” message, the thought process has been: saw the thing > oh, I remember x saying they like this thing > I’ll message them in case it's of interest. (The similar thought process of saw the thing > that’s cool, can I think of someone who I can share this with? > oh, x might like it is fundamentally different - here, the focus is on you, rather than the recipient, and for that reason these will more likely end up as our own social media posts or casual conversational stories.) The fact that these people have been not only taking interest in your life, but also care to be somewhat involved, is a joy.

Sometimes, it can be something that is quite obvious about you. I often get tagged in One Direction and High School Musical memes, for example, because I was very vocal with my love for them during school and everyone knew about it. Or it can be something you’ve mentioned in passing once or twice, that just happened to resonate with them for whatever reason.

And of course, sending these does come with its own set of worries, as a lot of out-of-the-blue messages do. We might worry that they’ll think we’re a bother, or a bit creepy for remembering - I worry about this one all the time - or, even worse, creepy and embarrassing for taking the time to message. But, in reality, the likelihood is that their response will be overwhelmingly positive. And so, today, my task for you is to send one thing on to a friend or acquaintance with that magical 6 word story: Saw this and thought of you. (And, if you want, preceded with a 7 word horror story: Hope you’re well in unprecedented times…)