Over the past several weeks, I facilitated four workshops with women navigating major transitions in their housing and life circumstances. These are women with children who have become unhoused for various reasons. I came in hoping to share tools for calm, clarity, and self-compassion during difficult challenges. What I didn’t expect was how much I would learn in return.
The most powerful reminder was that every person deserves to be seen and treated with dignity, regardless of their circumstances. It is easy to make assumptions about people or the paths that led them where they are. Sitting together in a room, listening to their stories, and experiencing moments of honesty and hardship reminded me just how complex and human everyday life is.
I also witnessed something deeply inspiring: resilience. Even in the middle of uncertainty and hardship, these women showed courage, vulnerability, faith and care for one another. Life can be incredibly hard, and many people are carrying far more than we can see on the surface. It reinforced for me how important it is to approach others with humility and compassion and the power of community.
These workshops also reminded me why I do this type of work. The tools I teach around mental fitness and self-compassion are not just ideas. They are practical ways to help people reconnect with their strength and steadiness, even in difficult moments. They needed to be reminded that they are valued, worthy and capable of managing through even the most difficult situations. Being able to use my skills in service of others in this way has been a meaningful reminder that when we share what we know with care and respect, small moments of listening, encouraging and support can matter more than we realize. There was no monetary compensation for this work, but I certainly gained a tremendous amount of perspective and insight.
I sometimes hear people say, “I don’t make enough money to give.” But generosity doesn’t always have to be financial. We all have something to contribute, and offering our skills in service of others is one way we can give. Facilitating these workshops taught me that when we share what we know with care and respect, we can make an impact.