You can tell a lot about a person by their willingness to help

“Doing something for yourself gives motivation, but doing something for others gives meaning.”

—Maxime Lagace

It's the day after an epic snowstorm, and this is my third day staying in. I saw my neighbors out my kitchen window. I opened the window and talked with them for a bit. They were working in my walkway. I opened my mudroom door and gave them my bucket of salt to use.

They told me we had gotten 13 inches of snow. I thank God I have good neighbors. Then this morning they and another guy were cleaning the sidewalk and our steps from our front porch down to the sidewalk. My parents normally help us, but today the work was underway when they came. I doubt I could have been any more blessed. To everyone who helped us, thank you.

There are those who avoid helping like the plague. However, we don’t want their help anyway. Real help comes without a price tag. Now I know some people do get paid to help. This column is a good example. I get paid, and it helps people. The kind of help I am talking about is the kind done outside of a job. It goes beyond a paycheck into well-being.

Now what do I mean by well-being? I mean a part of our health is related to how much we help people without getting anything in return.

What can make us happier is to give our time, talents and knowledge away for the greater good of the world around us. I was reading a John C. Maxwell book where he was quoting a doctor who said, “If you feel like you are going to have a mental health crisis, go out, lock your door and help someone else.” Helping takes our mind off our problems and puts it into investing in others.

When we help, we focus our energy on others rather than our own worries. I know I spend too much time focusing on myself, and to be frank, it is a waste of my time. Things I have absolutely no control over can keep me up at night; however, if I help others, my problems go by the wayside. Also, if we help those who are less fortunate than us, it’s an opportunity to realize how blessed we are. I said opportunity because some people will not realize how truly blessed they are.

Kyle Snyder can be emailed at kylesnyder86@yahoo.com.