I lived in turbulent times. The Russian Revolution, the First World War, the Russian Civil War, and then World War Two, within a single lifetime. In a way I feel such things broke and remade me more than once, perhaps for the better. I would like to hope that if nothing else, I have become the sort of person others can rely on in trying times. Sometimes people just need to know they aren't alone to endure such things.

You are overly kind. And you are not giving yourself nearly enough credit if you think the world doesn't need people such as yourself as well.