Street singer had been homeless for over 2 years—stranger heard her and changed her life
Many of us have the talent, the passion, and the will to work hard. Sometimes, all we need is the opportunity. A woman named Ara Bolster had a love for singing and music — a talent that was one-of-a-kind. Unfortunately, her circumstances pushed her to homelessness, CBS News reported. Like any other struggling person, she, too, was waiting for her silver lining. That happened to be a stranger with a kind heart and an ear for music, Matt Shearer. He chanced upon Bolster’s music one day, and from thereon, the woman’s life got a magical touch.
According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, over 653,104 people experienced homelessness on a single night in January 2023. Around 256,610 people, or 39.3 percent of the homeless population, were reportedly unsheltered. The rate of homelessness has been rapidly increasing over the years, and it points to the heartbreaking realities people have to get by. Bolster, too, had her share of challenges. "I was in tears. And I remember thinking to myself, 'You know, God, when is the tide going to turn?'" she mentioned. Having battled abusive relationships and other devastating events, she was homeless and started singing on the streets occasionally.
One day, a stranger came across the woman and realized she meant business. Shearer heard Bolster sing and couldn’t help but intervene and discover more. He was a radio news reporter and thought there might be something of value to uncover — and he was right. "When I'm sad, I sing. When I'm happy, I sing. The worst thing I can do for myself is not to sing," she remarked, per CBS Boston. He had a chat with Bolster, and it was revealed that she had one song very close to her heart. She had written her lyrics on a piece of cardboard she used as her mattress, and the melody was running through her mind. Having written it on the streets, this piece meant much, and she wanted nothing more than to share it with the world.
Hearing her simple request and seeing his ability to give her the opportunity, Shearer noted, “I thought, 'Well, I've got connections, I know people.’” A few days later, he showed up again, this time to take Bolster to a special place to make her dream come true. "I said, 'Hey, I have a surprise for you, let's go,'" he recalled. The duo went to an engineer and producer and headed to a recording studio for Bolster to reveal her mystery song. "Oh, I was blown away. The lyrics were powerful — how love can be both toxic and intoxicating,” Shearer said, on hearing her creation.
Knowing that this song was too special to be left out and too amazing not to give to the world, it was uploaded to a music platform, Bandcamp. Her work received a positive response with several downloads, earning Bolster around $5,000. Along with the cash and a dream come true, Bolster is delighted to have found something even more priceless — someone who believes in her, someone who cares. "I made a friend for the rest of my life. He's everything to me right now that I don't have. And he's a hero,” she remarked.