Soul Food-This ONE Thing Will Move You from Despair to Hope

I will try to make this brief (as brief as Eva Starr can). Without going into too much detail, I’ve had a rough road since right before Thanksgiving week. It’s still going on. After one closed door after another, I asked myself, “WTF are you doing? You of all people know the answer to this!” That still small voice in my head spoke up.

Despite the challenges, after many sleepless nights and countless tears—and lighting more candle rituals than I can count—something finally shifted.

Yesterday at Marc’s in West Park, after a big snowfall, I bought groceries and a 40-lb bag of birdseed. My workspace is now a cold, windowed corner of the living room. I love watching birds come to my two feeders outside while I work.

I hadn’t had birdseed for days, and the birds were gone. Standing in the snow, I wondered how I’d get the bag into my trunk. I had already hurt my back at the store. I spotted a teenage boy shoveling carts, called him over, and asked for help. He gladly lifted the bag into my trunk and helped me without hesitation. I thanked him, and he returned to shoveling.

As I drove away, I thought of the $20 bill I was saving in my purse. Remembering my Louise Hay and metaphysical teachings, I stopped, walked to the boy, and handed him the bill, saying, “Thank you for helping me buy your momma something nice for Christmas.” He hesitated, saying, “It’s too much!” I replied, “You helped me so graciously, and I haven’t given anything away all month—I want you to have it.” He agreed and promised he’d get something nice for his momma.

Tears streamed down my face as I drove away. Helping someone else lifted my spirits after weeks of feeling low. This reminded me that, when life is difficult, giving to others can shift your perspective and mood. When life gets tough, help someone—it truly changes everything.

If this inspires you, feel free to drop a coin in the tip jar on the sidebar of my blog page. ♥♥♥