Was coming home a few weeks ago after an extremely long, tiring day. The bus stop had a bigger than normal crowd and in addition to that, there was an old woman that was carrying 5 shopping bags. She appeared fatigued, and it seemed the people around were indifferent to her distress.

So I walked on over without batting an eye and offered my assistance. This time she paused, looking into my eyes as if trying to read my intentions. But then she smiled, gently, with gratitude, and passed me one of her bags.

She started unveiling her life in jigsaw pieces as we walked together. Dame Mariam had been widowed just before, having lost a husband of 50 years. She said it was hard taking the plunge into solo living; she had grocery shopped with him for so long that going by herself felt monumental.

I knew so much about her life by the time we arrived at her house, the battle she fought every day, and her courage. She asked me to come in for tea, and I figured time to hang out for a minute.

Sipping warm chai, Mariam reminisced about her youth, a love story with her husband, and what life had taught her. Like visiting with an estranged grandma. As we parted ways, she held my hand and told me one of the things that I will never forget:

Not only is kindness crucial for the one who experiences it, it also heals the one practicing it: You reminded me that I am not the only one who can disappear. And for that, I’m grateful.”

That night, I felt a little lighter on the walk home, with an inkling of a true pursuit. Every so often, life shows us small chances to reach out to people to remind them we care, to be nice, and that someone gives a shit they exist. All we need is the willingness to open our eyes to these.

The act of assisting Mariam with her bags itself was simple, but doing so helped share a moment of human experience in a world that is otherwise busy and indifferent.

If you see a bum needing help once, so you think it how many they have it in a day. It may make all the difference for them (or you).

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