I volunteer with the Crisis Text Line (CTL), which connects volunteer crisis counselors with people who text in when they're in crisis. I started volunteering with them when I was new in town and had lots of extra time, and it broke up long stretches of time by myself. I also found that, when my own life and work felt particularly overwhelming, talking someone else through an intense moment in their lives calmed me down and put little annoyances in my life in perspective. I helped texters think through solutions to problems that felt unsolvable or connect with resources to find support. The experiences I've had as a volunteer crisis counselor grew my own skills in building connections with people quickly and in making them feel heard. Volunteering with CTL reminded me that there are so many paths through the toughest times in our lives -- and that connecting with another person, even a stranger, can do so much to ease the burden.