# Acknowledgments in Plain Sight

## The Simple Act of Naming

In the rush of creating something—a book, a project, a life—we often forget the hands that steadied ours. Acknowledgments are those quiet lists at the end, where we name the people who lent ideas, time, or quiet encouragement. They're not grand speeches or flashy dedications. Just names, plain and true, saying: you were here with me. On a site like acknowledgments.md, this feels even more fitting. Markdown strips away decoration, leaving words as they are—honest, readable, close to the source.

## A Metaphor in the Code

Think of Markdown as life's own format: what you see is what you get, with the structure visible beneath. Acknowledgments.md embodies this. It's a reminder that gratitude thrives in simplicity. No need for ornate prose or hidden agendas. Like viewing a document's raw text, we reveal the supports that hold everything up—the friend who listened through doubts, the mentor who pointed the way, the stranger whose kindness lingered. In naming them, we make the invisible visible, turning solo efforts into shared stories.

## Carrying It Forward

As 2025 draws to a close on this mid-December day, pause amid the shortening light. Jot down your own list, however small. It might be:

- The neighbor who shoveled your walk.
- The voice note from a far-off friend.
- The quiet strength of those who stayed.

This practice grounds us, weaving connection into isolation.

*In the source code of our lives, every acknowledgment builds the light we share.*