Summary

The article "Thoughts to Cheer the Soul-Weary" encourages readers to focus on the countless acts of kindness and generosity in the world as an antidote to the weariness caused by awareness of global issues and negative events.

Abstract

In "Thoughts to Cheer the Soul-Weary," the author reflects on the emotional toll that staying informed about global issues can have on individuals, leading to a sense of soul-weariness. This feeling is exemplified by the author's own anxiety when her dog goes missing, only to be found and returned by a kind stranger. The article argues that by paying attention to the small, everyday acts of kindness, such as a stranger feeding a homeless person or returning a lost dog, one can maintain a positive outlook. The author emphasizes that these acts of kindness, though they may seem small individually, are numerous and collectively outweigh the negative events that dominate the news. The piece highlights the generosity of Americans, citing statistics on volunteering and charitable giving, and encourages readers to focus on the "helpers" during times of tragedy, suggesting that this perspective can prevent feelings of despair and soul-weariness.

Opinions

The author believes that awareness of global issues comes at a psychological cost, affecting one's energy and worldview.
Acts of kindness, such as a stranger caring for a lost dog, serve as a reminder of the inherent goodness in people.
The author suggests that noticing and appreciating everyday kindnesses can counteract the impact of negative news.
The article conveys optimism, asserting that the collective good deeds done by ordinary people far outnumber the evil acts.
The author holds the view that focusing on the positive actions of individuals, like those who volunteer and donate to charities, can prevent one from feeling soul-weary.
The piece emphasizes that a change in perspective, from dwelling on darkness to recognizing the "pinpricks of light," can significantly improve one's mental and emotional state.

Thoughts to Cheer the Soul-Weary

Finding light in a world of darkness

Recently, a politician, Denny Heck from the House of Representatives, talked about his retirement after four terms in office. He said,

“My soul is weary.”

I sighed, grabbing my notebook to scribble his words. For a moment, I felt discouragement, distress, and despair. His phrase didn’t just resonate with me. It vibrated through me like a tuning fork had been struck on my heart.

Many of us are soul-weary these days.

Awareness of current events comes at a cost

I want to be aware of what’s happening in the world. I want to understand the global issues that face us and not bury my head in the sand, ignoring everything except what happens in my own little mud puddle.

But world-watching exacts a heavy price.

Knowing about wars, prejudices, ethnic cleansings, political-powers-gone-berserk, mass shootings, robberies, poverty, discrimination, crime, climate change, destruction of the rain-forest, massive fires, and accidents costs you.

Knowledge of current events takes a toll on your psyche, your energy, and your outlook on the world.

Unless you change your viewpoint.

How to overcome the weariness of the soul

Yesterday, my country dog wandered a mile away, across a frozen fields and an expanse of woods to end up loitering along a stranger’s fence. Zoey, my lovable, adopted shelter dog who is always up for an adventure, had not obeyed the boundaries of our property and decided to track a deer or a rabbit or just take a walkabout far from home.

I was frantic. I imagined the worst. She could have gotten tackled by a coyote. She might have trekked up to the road, and not understanding cars, jumped into the path of a speeding vehicle. My stomach was churning. What if she was now lying dead or injured on the side of the road?

Nausea notwithstanding, I wandered the meadows and woods on our property, looking in the ravines, calling her name, buzzing her training collar to bring her home.

No Zoey.

Then the phone rang. A woman from Lost and Found Pets identified herself. “Zoey’s just fine,” she said as my heart started celebrating. “A woman who lives not far from you has found her.” Just a hop-skip-and-a-jump from us, a kind soul had discovered my dog dawdling around her house and called the pet locator service. She even volunteered to put her on a lead and walk a mile down the country road to bring her back to us.

I was reunited with my sweet but disobedient dog because of the kindness of a stranger.

Her action reminded me of how many millions and millions of good deeds are done quietly every day by ordinary people who care about others.

If I paid more attention to the small acts of kindness in the daily world, I would never feel soul-weary. It’s hard to stay mired in the muck of bad news when you start noticing good deeds.

Acts of kindness

The other day, I pulled into Walgreens drug store. While my husband ran in, I watched a shabbily-dressed, older man sitting on the concrete walkway, back against the brick wall, head down. As I sat wondering if I should help him, a little elderly lady walked over and handed him a big bag of food from the MacDonald’s across the street.

She had not hesitated. She had just acted. She had done one small act of kindness that made a difference, and she had done it without asking to be praised, acknowledged, or noticed in any way.

How many millions of times throughout the world are things like that happening every day?

More times than we can count.

The amount of goodness surrounding us should keep us from being soul-weary. Kind acts outweigh evil ones.

Consider the generosity of Americans:

More than one-quarter of the American population volunteer to help other people. That’s 62.8 million people choosing to do something selfless with 7.9 billion hours of time every year.
Individuals in America account for 70% of charitable giving. In fact, in 286.7 billion dollars were given to charity in 2017.
For the first time ever, charitable giving in America crossed the $4 billion dollar mark, donating 410.02 billion dollars in 2017.
1.5 million non-profit organizations exist in the United States today.

Think about it. Every time a tragedy happens, thousands and thousands of people step forward to help in some way, whether it be in donating of their money or in supporting the grieving in any way possible. From GoFundMe pages, to impromptu memorials of flowers, candles, and signs, to prayer vigils and cards, people try to help.

In the midst of tragedy or inconceivable violence, look at the people who run into the face of danger to protect others. Remember the heroes who save others at the risk of losing themselves. Concentrate on the “helpers” instead of the perpetrators.

Change your viewpoint

Millions of people in countries all over the globe come to each other’s aid. No count exists for the many smaller, less-bravery-required acts of kindness like returning a lost wallet filled with money, giving someone a bag of food, donating to toy drives, food pantries, or fundraisers which happen billions of times every day throughout the world.

Don’t let your soul be weary.

A dark world looks much, much brighter if you focus on the dog-finders, the wallet-returners, and the many acts of kindness that are performed every day all around you.

In the midst of darkness, there are a million pinpricks of light.

Melissa Gouty is an optimistic soul who believes that the goodness in people outweighs the evil in the world, no matter how bleak it seems. She’s a writer-for-hire who loves books, ideas, history, human nature, and her sometimes-misbehaving dog, Zoey.