This is Vanese Ferguson with Coffee Talk. We had a newspoll question earlier this week about mid-winter blues – which coincided with what is dubbed Blue Monday – the third Monday in January. I am among the more than two-thirds of people who say they suffer from feeling less happy at this time of year. If it wasn’t for having a dog which, unless its days like those coming up – means I go for a walk every day, I would be huddled in my house with the curtains shut power watching something on television and feeling more lethargic and depressed by the second. And having those mid-winter blues also unfavourably colours how I tend to view my fellow man. However, I decided to recognize a moment of grace this week. I was at my local grocery store and a gentleman in a wheelchair who had gone shopping and had a box of groceries on his lap was one handedly pushing himself outside. He got out the door and I’m not sure what happened if it was an obstruction on the ground or a downward slope and too much weight going one direction, but he completely toppled over. I had my hands full and rushed to drop everything in my vehicle – which was very close by – and by time I returned there were three other people trying to help him. Just as I and another lady were going to attempt to lift him back into his chair, two fairly strapping younger men stepped up and got him righted in his wheelchair. That gentleman was gracious and thankful and then independently went on about his day. It definitely restored a bit of my faith in humanity, or some of them, if only for a moment. So, in light of the oncoming deep freeze and the mess things are this morning, if you have snow angel or a neighbour or a passing stranger that does you a solid, make sure you thank them. I think everyone appreciates being appreciated.
Have a little faith, sometimes people surprise you
By Vanese M. Ferguson
Jan 21, 2026 | 7:19 AM
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