Have you been feeling overwhelmed of late? Fatigued? Sleepless and anxious about the prevailing uncertainty that hangs in the air? Given the catastrophic weather events, political climate, inflation, and ongoing wars (among other stressors), there are so many reasons we can feel paralyzed some days or incapable of taking in one more disaster.

Working as a spiritual counselor is my saving grace because helping others brings a shift of focus, and time spent in higher frequencies always makes one feel better, but I’ve been doing something else to keep moving forward with an open heart, and it’s been fun.

I’ve been taking love to the streets. Every day, I find ways to be generous and connect with others to acknowledge them and lift their spirits. As part of the struggling middle class, I may not have extra money to give or grand ways to contribute, but I have found that the smallest things can make the biggest difference and here are a few examples:

As I drive by people walking in my neighborhood, I smile as I pass, and they are usually surprised as they smile back.

At a Starbucks drive-through, I paid for the person’s order behind me, imagining their surprise and the gesture potentially duplicating through the line of cars. When taking the money for the order, the cashier at the window was so happy and excited it changed her whole demeanor and she couldn’t stop gushing with gratitude.

When I saw a young homeless man who had caught my eye on other occasions, I immediately recognized he had taken a bad turn. Even his sign had changed to “Homeless and Hurting”. So I stopped at a nearby store and bought a big roast beef sandwich and bottle of water, then had to get on and off the freeway several times to be able to hand it to him on the offramp. I wanted to do more and ask what he needed, but the light changed. He thanked me brightly and walked away to put the items in a plastic bag by a bush near his “post”. My intuition tells me to watch for him and do what I can, so I’m putting a spare backpack in my car for the next time I see him, so he can have a better way to carry his belongings.

Just taking the time to look people in the eye and find something nice to say, creates connection that helps us remember we are all part of the same Universe, going through the same things together. And when you express and reflect that unity, it reflects back.

Today, with just a couple items in my arms, a woman called me over to her line in the grocery store to go ahead of her, since everyone had full baskets. We had a lovely exchange and her gesture warmed my heart. The day before, as I was standing in yet another line, I caught a woman’s eye and she commented on what a beautiful smile I had. Rather than be shy and resistant, I thanked her directly and said “what a kind thing to say”.

In a world that’s fighting, in a country that’s scorched with caustic, demeaning rhetoric from so-called leaders, and in the midst of our own personal struggles, taking love to the streets can bring the remembrance of unity to the surface and spark some joy in our hearts. There are so many small things we can do in a day to spread the love and ease our burdens. You never know how much someone is suffering internally while looking as if they’re fine, and how much you can alter their course just by smiling. Try it! There’s no better time than now.