Last week, I felt blah. Tired, raw, and uninspired. This week, I feel good. Rested, clear, and creative. I took intentional actions. AND I was loved and supported by people who didn't even know I was down.

A friend texted me a beautiful poem. A new person in my life reached out with care and compassion. A colleague applauded my going offline over the weekend. Friends gathered in our backyard and played D&D (the laughter!). Mark made my favorite dinner. Neighborhood kids appreciated my sidewalk-chalk messages. A friend sent me joyful photographs.

Each of these actions had a positive impact. No one person needed to carry me; I was buoyed by a village of kindness.

During this devastating pandemic, we all search for meaning, purpose, and hope. Yet the meaning doesn't appear in grand-canyon moments and epic actions. It happens by doing the good right in front of us. Kind words, generous actions, ordinary forgiveness: these make a difference.

If you think you don't matter, you do. If you think you're alone, you're not. If you think you can't make a difference, please reread this post. You can't save the world (none of us can), but you can bear witness to the person right in front of you. You can listen, love, and breathe; you can make mistakes, forgive, and begin again.