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Every Little Thing by April Jeppson

The sun has been shining all week, and I can’t overstate what that’s done for my mood. It’s like the clouds finally got the memo that we were all hanging on by a thread. A little sunshine can make you believe again, that your to-do list is conquerable, that hope is not lost, and that maybe, just maybe, you really are doing OK.

And then this week, I went with my family to see “Thunderbolts,” the new Marvel movie.

Now listen, I was expecting action. I was ready for witty banter, elaborate fight scenes and some plot twist I’d have to pretend I didn’t see coming. But what I wasn’t prepared for was how deeply the movie would dive into mental health. It wasn’t subtle either, it was right there, woven through the storylines of these flawed, gritty, reluctantly-good characters.

These aren’t your shiny, polished superheroes. The Thunderbolts are a team of misfits, each one carrying some heavy emotional baggage, all trying to navigate second chances and murky redemption arcs. And under all the explosions and fight choreography, the message was loud and clear: Even the strongest among us need help sometimes. Even heroes can be lost, and honest human connection (like a hug) is what brings us back.

It hit home.

I know this in my bones already. I’ve built my life around community, around people. But life gets busy. I forget. I get caught up in the meetings and the errands and the “don’t forget to sign this field trip form” moments. I forget how easy it can be to lift someone else just by seeing them. Saying the kind thing. Staying an extra minute.

Sending the quick message that says, “You matter. I see you.”

The movie was a good reminder that the world doesn’t need us to be perfect. It needs us to be present.

It made me think about how many people walk around feeling like they’re one wrong step away from unraveling. How many people feel like they’ve outlived their usefulness or are just too broken to be worthy of love or purpose. And how powerful it can be when someone else steps in and says, “Hey, you’re not alone.”

Sometimes that’s all it takes to turn things around.

So if your week’s been heavy, or lonely, or just relentlessly average, this is your reminder: You’re not the only one. And if your week’s been light and lovely, with extra sunshine and fewer meltdowns, then pass it on. Be the one who says the nice thing. Linger a little longer. Text your friend. Compliment the stranger. Watch the superhero movie with your kids and let yourself feel it.

Albert Lean April Jeppson is a wife, mom, coach and encourager of dreams. Her column appears every Saturday.