A Mother’s Legacy: How One Woman Turned Grief into a Global Movement of Hope

In the bustling streets of New York City, amid the chaos and noise, tiny glass jars filled with colorful origami stars have been appearing mysteriously, each tied with heartfelt notes of encouragement. These small beacons of light are the creation of Cynthia Yip, a 38-year-old New Yorker who found a beautiful way to honor her mother’s memory while healing her own heart. Tai Hing, Yip’s mother, passed away at just 65 years old in 2017, months after being diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease). Throughout her life, Tai had been a beacon of kindness and generosity, always going out of her way to help others. When faced with the overwhelming grief of losing her mother, Yip’s therapist suggested channeling that pain into something meaningful—something that would keep her mother’s spirit alive. “One way I could contribute back is to do what my mom used to do,” Yip explained. “She would go out of her way to help people, so I wanted to do the same thing, where I contribute kindness and positivity back to the community.” What began as simple Post-It notes with uplifting messages left around the city evolved into something far more personal and symbolic.

The inspiration to expand her project came unexpectedly when a stranger reached out on Instagram after finding one of Yip’s notes. “They told me that they were having a really tough day, and seeing that note was really surprising and was what they needed at that time,” Yip recalled. This single interaction fueled her desire to touch more lives, to create more moments of unexpected joy for strangers going through difficult times. As the project evolved, Yip began incorporating elements that connected her directly to cherished memories of her mother. She started placing her encouraging messages on tiny glass jars filled with handmade paper stars—a craft that held special significance. “That was one of my favorite pastime activities with my mom. So I wanted to also incorporate that little piece into these notes of positivity and kindness,” she explained. Now, Yip carries these tiny treasures with her regularly, leaving them throughout New York City whenever she feels inspired, creating moments of serendipity for those lucky enough to find them.

These small acts of kindness have created ripples far beyond what Yip could have imagined. In November, 26-year-old Star Shelton—whose name itself seemed to make the encounter fated—discovered one of Yip’s creations while walking through Times Square during a work trip. The message attached to the jar read: “Even though it feels like the shadows might never lift, always remember that even the longest nights end with a sunrise. Trust in your own strength to navigate the darkness and keep looking ahead to the light you will soon see.” For Shelton, the message couldn’t have been more timely or profound. “Those words resonated with me so deeply at the time, and even today, I continue to see why I received that message when I did,” she shared. This tiny jar now occupies a place of honor on an altar in Shelton’s Detroit home, a perfect souvenir and a constant reminder that light can find us even in our darkest moments. Similarly, Kimberley Meadows from Newcastle Upon Tyne in the UK was visiting New York to celebrate her 40th birthday when she encountered one of Yip’s creations. Contemplating whether to apply for a leadership role at work but plagued by self-doubt, Meadows found a jar with the message: “The hardest part about setting goals for ourselves is the fear that we’ll never achieve them. But it doesn’t matter whether we took one or hundreds of steps towards it. The most important thing is that you took a step, a risk, and a chance for yourself. And that matters.” This chance encounter gave Meadows the confidence boost she needed—she applied for the position and got the job.

What began as one woman’s path through grief has blossomed into a global movement of hope and remembrance. People from around the world have reached out to Yip, not only expressing gratitude for her messages but asking how they might participate in similar acts of kindness in their own communities. “A lot of people who reached out to me tell me that they’ve had a loved one who passed away as well, and a few of them had relatives who passed away from ALS. So they were able to really connect with my story,” Yip shared. “It helped them realize that there are also things that they could do as well to continue to honor their loved ones.” Understanding the healing power of this practice, Yip now shares instructions for making the origami stars on her website, enabling others to create their own tributes to loved ones. The Tiny Jars of Stars project has spread as far as Australia, with the potential to reach the United Kingdom soon through Meadows, who has expressed interest in bringing the project to her hometown. Last month, Yip was recognized by research nonprofit Kindlab for offering “an unexpected burst of sunshine” to others—a testament to how one person’s healing journey can illuminate paths for countless others.

For Yip, the project remains deeply rooted in New York City—the place where her mother raised her and where memories linger on every corner. “After my mom passed away, I found certain places around New York City to be hard to revisit because it reminded me of my mom,” she explained. What once brought pain has been transformed through this project into a celebration of her mother’s life and legacy. Each tiny jar represents not just a message of hope for strangers but a conversation with her mother’s memory, a way of continuing the work of kindness that defined Tai Hing’s life. “It helped remind me that as painful as it was to lose my mom, I should also celebrate her life,” Yip reflected. “Every time I write these notes, it’s like a little nudge to me that, yes, my mom is no longer here with me, but let’s not forget the ways she has brought laughter and smiles to so many people in her life.” Through these tiny jars of stars, Tai Hing’s light continues to shine—not just in her daughter’s heart but in the lives of strangers around the world who, for a moment, feel seen, understood, and less alone in their struggles. In this way, Yip has discovered that love never truly dies—it simply finds new ways to illuminate the darkness.