STORY 1: During college, I went through a deep depression and worked as a housekeeper at a Comfort Inn over summer break. The job was physically demanding, and I spent most days completely alone doing manual labor. I think those long, solitary summer months gave me the space to process some tough emotions. One day,…

STORY 1: During college, I went through a deep depression and worked as a housekeeper at a Comfort Inn over summer break. The job was physically demanding, and I spent most days completely alone doing manual labor. I think those long, solitary summer months gave me the space to process some tough emotions.

One day, after finishing a room, I was hot, sweaty, and exhausted from the stifling heat—there was no air conditioning in the hallways, only in the rooms. While I was loading garbage onto my trolley, two handsome men with sparkling eyes, smooth dark skin, and big warm smiles stepped out of their room. Suddenly, they began singing a beautiful a cappella song. The rich texture and resonance of their voices echoed down the empty hallway, and it felt unreal.

They told me they were singers on their way to a performance. Even though it was about 12 years ago, I’ll never forget how that simple act of kindness and beauty lifted my spirit in such a profound way. STORY 2: I got pregnant at 15, so I quickly got used to people’s judgment. One day, an elderly woman handed me a folded $20 bill and said, “Here, honey.

Diapers get expensive.” When I got home, I found a small note tucked inside that read: You’re stronger than you think.Years later, I noticed faint writing on the back—the note was signed with my name. I’d never met the woman before. Then, one day while visiting my mom, I mentioned the note, and she went quiet. After a moment, she smiled and said, “She was a neighbor I helped once when no one else would. Looks like she remembered.”