“As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others. This Maya Angelous quote beautifully encapsulates the essence of The Helping Hand. Small acts of kindness can transform not just your life but also the lives of others.
As we progress through midlife, it becomes clear that our journey is not a solitary one but is interconnected with the lives of those around us. Our personal growth is deeply intertwined with how we contribute to the well-being of others. But helping others doesn’t mean grand gestures. It can be as simple as listening to a friend who’s struggling, offering support to someone starting their midlife journey, or reconnecting with someone from your past.
The little things often have the greatest impact. Whether it’s a friend checking in or a stranger holding the door when your hands are full, those small acts of kindness matter. When we offer a helping hand, we not only uplift someone else, but we also enrich our own lives, reinforcing our sense of purpose and connection.
Finding Strength in Connection
In Chapter 14 of Midlife Marvels, I share a personal story from my own midlife transition—a time when I felt utterly lost and even began to doubt my faith in God, something I had never done before. I was grappling with menopause, an empty nest, and weight gain, and it felt like I was struggling to find my place in the world again.
It was during this difficult time that I sought solace in painting classes and found an incredible fitness coach who introduced me to a supportive community. What started as a quest to learn how to paint and lose weight became something much deeper. The connections I formed, the stories I heard, and the simple act of being in these learning communities with other women reminded me that I was never truly alone. Even though I had felt distant from God, I realized that He had never left my side—I just needed to reach out to Him again.
This realization reminded me of the timeless poem “Footprints in the Sand,” where a person walking along a beach with the Lord notices two sets of footprints, but during the hardest times, there is only one. The Lord explains that during those times, He was carrying them. This poem resonated deeply with me during my midlife struggles and helped me understand that even when I felt most alone, I was never truly by myself.
Helping Others, Helping Ourselves
You see, Marvels, helping others is like hiking on a tough trail. Sometimes it’s easier when you extend a hand to the person next to you—you both find strength in the shared experience. And when you’re navigating midlife, that strength is invaluable.
During my journey, I completed a painting of a woman praying with the words “Give it to God and go to sleep.” I hung it in my bedroom as a daily reminder that trusting in God and offering help to others brings peace and clarity. I also lost the 40 pounds I had gained, but it was the connections I made that were truly transformative.
So how can you offer a helping hand without overwhelming yourself? It doesn’t have to be a grand or time-consuming gesture. You can start by reaching out to a neighbor, volunteering just an hour of your time, or being more present with your loved ones. Often, in helping others, we find that we help ourselves even more.
Reflection Questions for Your Journaling Practice
As you go through this week, I encourage you to journal and reflect on these questions:
- Who in your life could use a helping hand right now?
- How can you offer support without overwhelming yourself?
- How might helping others help you navigate your own midlife challenges?
By extending a helping hand, you’re not only enriching someone else’s life but also transforming your own. The beauty of midlife is that it’s a time of both personal growth and reaching out to lift others. The connections you form and the lives you touch will create ripples of joy and fulfillment in your own journey.
As you move forward this week, remember that you have two hands—one for helping yourself and one for helping others. Use them both, and you’ll find that the challenges of midlife become a little easier to manage.