Speaking online, a blessing and a curse at the same time

💻 Speaking online, to me a blessing and a curse at the same time.

⏱️ Yes, it's wonderfully efficient with no travel and no lost time. But I'm honest: to me a lot gets lost when I'm not in the same room. That natural human connection, the little cues like a nod, a smile, and eye contact, are harder to read through a screen.

🤔 For example, when my students look at their notes on another screen, it easily feels like disinterest. But as Annabell Whitney wisely said in a recent presentation: “Never try to read someone else’s thoughts.”

💬 She is right, because a student who I thought was hardly paying attention wrote to me the following heart-warming feedback:

"I would like to sincerely thank Erlijn for her inspiring and highly professional teaching! I truly enjoyed her course — the clarity of her explanations, her warm and respectful communication style, and the well-structured learning materials made the entire experience both effective and enjoyable."

😌 And she explained:

"Despite going through some personal challenges during this time, it was important to me to stay engaged in the course as much as possible — that’s how meaningful and motivating her classes were to me."

🌟 And this shows how wrong I was thinking she wasn't enjoying the course:

"What I especially appreciated was Erlijn’s ability to combine academic precision with genuine kindness and empathy — a rare and valuable quality. For me personally, this was one of the most rewarding learning experiences I’ve had. Thank you so much for your dedication, your time, and the supportive environment you created!"

💚 Moments like these remind me that even through the digital barrier, connection is still possible, even when I don't realize.

🎤 That said, I'm also very much looking forward to my next presentation and training in real life!