I had just walked out of my building with my dog, India, holding the opposite end of her hot pink leash. It was not yet eight in the morning.

I love our morning walks; the quiet of our neighborhood, the feeling of gently pulling my body out of nighttime stiffness and the minor battle of wills I play with my dog over negotiating the direction of our first steps.

I heard strange, desperate cries coming from the blondish brick building across the street. They weren’t the pleas of a baby or young child, shrill and insistent but easily subdued with attention.

A cry was followed by a few moments of silence before starting up again. I surmised they were the sounds of a woman afraid for her safety, but not prepared to do more than scream and cry.

Must be a terrible fight, I concluded, a little war taking place between a couple in their apartment. I felt so helpless.

I saw a young woman standing a couple doors to my east, also staring at the window across the street where the cries seemed to come from.

We exchanged glances. We both knew what we heard. I spoke first.

“I don’t have my cell phone with me. Can you call the police? Can you call 9-1-1?”

She explained that she was waiting for an Uber that was due to arrive any moment, adding that as soon as she could, she would call the police and report the disturbance and our concern.

We looked at each other again. Maybe we were a little ashamed we couldn’t do more, or, despite our concern, were not prepared to alter our routines. I went on my walk. She caught her ride and, hopefully, made the call.

As war rages in Ukraine, as personal stories have simultaneously become more global and more intimate, thanks to online platforms, it’s so easy to feel overwhelmed.

There seems to be no shortage of suffering. It’s hard to be a compassionate and empathic person and not be affected.  It’s important, though, not to feel paralyzed and not let feelings of being “not enough” to fix the problem keep you from doing something to make things better.

I believe there’s “always something” we can do.

I consciously choose to take time to be “present” and respond to whatever the moment is calling me to do.

The other day, I drove a friend to the doctor. In addition to providing transportation, I helped her ask questions about a procedure she was exploring. I had no longstanding plans to do this, but she asked me, and I was able to.

Not long ago, I became acquainted with Nelia Hutt. In trying to build an audience for my books and courses, I have been guesting on podcasts, sharing my story of working my way out of depression through gratitude.

I didn’t expect to be so affected by Nelia, host of Giving Starts with You podcast.

She has a personal history of working her way out of depression, grief and anxiety. Her route to a new life came through helping other people. She found that being of service, especially in an area related to one’s passions, is the best way to feel whole and human.

She experienced how an orientation towards service not only leads to short-term wins for those receiving help, involvement in such a cause can eradicate loneliness. I think it made her feel like an essential thread in the fabric of life.

In her words, “Giving to other people made me feel good about myself.”

Besides her podcasts, blogging and book (Giving My Heart Room to Breathe), she has developed tools to help people uncover their passions and will work with people on turning these passions into “helping” projects.

She’s been so inspirational!

I’ve been encouraged by others who want to share what they’ve learned in the course of their own healing journeys in case any of their practices or discoveries can help someone else.

Whether helping a friend or neighbor as a need arises, or organizing a drive to send food or blankets to support Ukrainian refugees, there is always something we can do.

Doing something, anything, to make things even a little better is no small thing.

Some ideas for helping Ukraine relief.

https://www.airbnb.org/help-ukraine

https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/what-we-do/countries/ukraine

https://www.wfp.org/emergencies/ukraine-emergency