Once when I was studying abroad in Europe, I found myself at the wrong airport with no way to catch my plane at the other airport on time.

This is embarrassing, but, I mistook Rotterdam for Amsterdam. I was in the wrong place by a long shot. No way to get back to my lodging and friends in Rome.

I don’t think I had money to get another ticket either. So… stranded.

I was experiencing a lot of fear, fear about being stranded, and not getting home (what would happen to me?). So I reached out to… someone.

On a whim I called my friend, my first-year roommate from college (was then a third-year). He was one of the few people I could reach at that time and place.

Luckily my friend picked up. We started talking. I explained my situation. He told his mom about it and—long story short—she gave me her credit card information to me, to buy a ticket home.

I was so immensely relieved!

Looking back on that time, I still feel a huge amount of gratitude that they helped me out of that situation. I feel more trusting that there will always be someone to lend a hand, when it seems you have nowhere to turn to.

And it makes me want to provide that support and relief and goodwill to other people—to anyone and everyone! My friend and his mom’s compassion helped open my heart as well.

One open heart helps another to open. That’s how life goes.