Earlier this summer, we spotted three tiny kittens sitting on the side of the road at the front of our neighborhood. We guessed they were about four to six weeks old, just little and wide-eyed—clearly out of place. 

We suspected someone had dumped them, as they stayed close to the same area looking unsure what to do, or where to go.

We spent a long time trying to trap them and we finally managed to catch two out of the three kittens. We named these brothers Smokey and Bandit. 

A couple days later, neighbors reported seeing a mama and the third kitten in the exact same spot. We were so relieved to know the lone kitten didn't have to fend for herself. 

We set up a trap and tried to get the mama and the other kitten, even using Smokey and Bandit as bait. Mama came near her babies, sniffed them, clearly recognized them—but refused to step into the trap to be with them and eat some wet food. This photo was the closest we came to catching her, while the other kitten stayed nearby in the woods. We watched for weeks after that, but never caught sight of the mama or the other kitten again.

I had immediately posted photos in our community group, asking if anyone had lost them. A nearby neighbor named Betty told us she’d recently found a lone kitten crying near her barn—one who looked just like Smokey. She’d named him Rowdy. 

Apparently Rowdy had fallen into a deep hole and was stuck. His mama must have been unable to reach him without getting trapped herself, so she had to leave him. Betty heard his cries one day, found him and pulled him out.

Here’s the first lesson Rowdy—and his mama—taught me.

Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is not jump into a hole with someone. We can’t help anyone if we both end up trapped. That mama cat knew her limits. There’s wisdom in recognizing when a situation is too big for us to fix and we may need outside help. 

But the bigger lesson comes from Rowdy.

Betty and I stayed in touch and a few weeks ago, we brought Rowdy over for a little family reunion. It was the first time the “brothers” were all together since life had split them up. 

On the left, Rowdy is ready to play while Smokey, right, is wishing he could disappear.

We thought Rowdy might be nervous, being around siblings again and in a new environment. But he surprised us and was the boldest one—chasing, wrestling (attempting to), and exploring. Bandit was sort of interested in Rowdy, but Smokey wasn't into any of it. He hid every chance he could, even though he was in his own familiar space. 

I started thinking about why Rowdy wasn’t more afraid at our house with new people, new rooms, and especially being one kitten meeting two bonded brothers. 

Perhaps Rowdy’s boldness came from surviving the pit, literally. In a way, he saved his own life. Yes, Betty rescued him, but Rowdy cried out. Loudly. Incessantly. He had to fight for his life. He had been to the bottom, used his voice, and been saved. And that gave him a confidence that Smokey hasn't had to find. 

We don’t always have the strength or the ability on our own to climb out of the holes we fall into. But we do have a voice. And that voice can be what saves us. We have to use it and not be ashamed to let someone help.

Some of us learned early on to not ask for help, because the humans in charge of us weren't able to provide what we needed. We became fiercely independent, refusing to trust others. 

That self-reliance may have protected us for a while, but it can turn into a trap of its own. Living in silence, carrying everything alone, isn’t strength, it’s survival. Maybe we don't have to be as self-reliant as we once were?

Real strength is crying out for help when we’re stuck. 

If you’re in a hole right now—emotionally, spiritually, financially, relationally—please ask for help. Please reach out to someone, or reply to this email and I’ll do my best to share something that has helped me before. But if not me, then I hope you will reach out to someone else. Don’t stay stuck out of pride or fear. Silence won’t save you, but boldness might. 

Just don’t stay quiet. 

There’s too much life, healing, and joy waiting beyond the pit. It takes a lot of courage to admit we can’t do everything ourselves, and if that’s where you are today, please know you are not alone.

Have you been in a deep pit and made it out? If so, I hope you’re looking around for someone else to lift up. Because you know what it's like to need someone and that makes you the best kind of help. 

For today, remember, it’s not weakness to cry out when we’re in over our heads, or having a day where it all feels like too much. 

“A problem shared is a problem halved.". Letting someone in today just might be the next step to a new level of freedom and boldness—a new take on life—like Rowdy. 
 

Want to read more about using your voice? Check out Having a Voice from March. It's totally different and yet, related.

Does today's meditation resonate with you? Please share your voice in our FTG Readers Group on Facebook. Your hopes, thoughts and dreams matter to me.

-——————————————

Cheers to a great week, noticing the gifts that matter most. Feel free to share with a friend.

Announcements and painting of the week are below!

Until next time...

To your gifts!

Angela

🙏 Feeling grateful?! Me too! I love building this community with you. If you want to play a bigger part, you are invited to send a small thank you for your weekly dose of empowerment. Your support helps cover the monthly costs associated with publishing a newsletter, strengthens our community, and keeps the emails coming!  

Thanks if you have contributed, and a special THANKS if you signed up for a monthly or yearly expression of gratitude!

YouTube Channel

Check out all the new content, especially the shorts! While I'm not blogging weekly right now, I am posting content on my social channels nearly every day. Are you missing me?! I'm missing you, too! Please connect with me in other ways and be sure to subscribe.

Book Reviews So Appreciated!

If you haven't already, would you please take a second right now to leave a short review on Amazon? That's one of the easiest things you can do to help an author you love keep writing. Many thanks in advance!

Invite a Friend to Join Us?

Do you enjoy my Tuesday emails and know someone else who would appreciate a weekly dose of spiritual food—hope, encouragement and a fresh perspective? Please send them to angelahowell.com/links, where they can click the button to sign up for Tuesday's gifts and updates. They will also receive my free eBook, 10 Secrets to Finding the Gift. Thank you in advance for helping me reach more people.

Retreats

Want to connect with other beach-loving ladies on my Paint, Paddle & Play retreats? We may add other travel adventures in the future! If you crave real connections with like-minded women, join the mailing list and sign up for priority retreat updates here. 

Individual and Group Coaching

If you know there must be more to life than what you're experiencing, but aren't quite sure how to move toward that, my 12-week transformational program, A Life Worth Having could be a fit for you. 

Abstract Painting of the Week
If you'd like to see more of my art, please visit my website. Reply to this email if there is something you're interested in. I also offer commissions, and shipping is available.

Wild Blue Yonder   18x24  acrylic on gallery wrapped canvas. For now, I'm thinking of keeping this one, but what can I create for you?!

Want My Monthly ART Updates?

My art-only updates are sent about once or twice per quarter and include art news, interviews, events and shows, current works in progress, behind the scenes info and photos, and stories about my process. CLICK HERE to receive my art updates.