From Rage to Gratitude: Love really does make a difference
The other day, I was on my way to the yoga studio, absolutely consumed with rage—what, I’m human. Things had not been going the way I’d anticipated, and I felt stuck in my frustration. As I drove, a song came on my playlist about love being the only thing that can pull you out of dark times. In my anger, I found myself mocking the sentiment a little—love? In this moment? Ugh, seems impossible.
As I turned onto the frontage road near the studio, I saw a man who often parks there with his German shepherds. In the back of my car, I happened to have two dog beds I’d been needing to give away- you know how a bag of donated clothes lives in your trunk for months before drop off, right? Suddenly, something shifted. I pulled over, waved to the man, and introduced myself.
“I have these dog beds,” I said. “Would you and your dogs like them?”
We chatted for a bit as his dogs—so friendly and sweet—gathered around me. I gave him the beds, and as I drove into the yoga studio parking lot, something remarkable happened: my rage had completely disappeared.
The song was right—love does make a difference. Giving, even a small gesture like this, had opened my heart in a way I hadn’t expected. It pulled me out of the darkness and reminded me how interconnected we are.
Later, as I left the studio, I saw Angel (the man) again. One of his dogs was already curled up on one of the beds, looking cozy and content. Seeing that warmed my heart—it felt so good to have done something kind, with no expectation of anything in return.
But that wasn’t the end of the story.
That same day, as I was putting up Christmas lights in my front yard, a woman walked by and introduced herself. She mentioned that a restaurant had messed up an order, and she was carrying around an extra bacon cheeseburger. She asked if I wanted it.
I thought, my dogs would love this. So, I took it. As she handed it to me, she smiled and said, “Thank you for lightening my load.”
As I tore bits of bacon and burger to share with my dogs, I felt a sense of completion. It was a full-circle moment—a good deed given, and another received.
The more we give, the more we open ourselves to receive. Love and kindness, even in the smallest acts, can transform not only our mood but our entire perspective. And when we’re open to it, the universe has a way of giving back.
I hope this inspires you to find your own small acts of love today—whether it’s saying hello to someone passing by, holding the door open, or complimenting someone’s shoes (because who doesn’t love a little unexpected flattery?). You never know how far these simple gestures might ripple out into the world.
Warmly,
Jess