What a Dog Walker and a Neighbor Taught Me About Presence!

The other morning, I walked out of the gym after doing some core work on the mats. It was only 8:30 am, but I felt completely disheveled. My hair was tousled, my posture slouched, and I probably looked like I had just wrestled with gravity itself.

At that very moment, a couple strolled by with their dog. The gentleman glanced at me and said with a grin, “Gosh, must’ve been a heck of a workout!”

I straightened my posture, gave a small laugh, and replied, “Yes, it was.” But inside, another thought crept in: “If I look this worn out now, what’s the rest of the day going to be like?”

A few days later, I was heading back to the gym when a neighbor pulled up beside me in her car. She rolled down her window, gave me a warm smile, and said: “You are looking great!”

Two ordinary moments. Two different reflections. And one important lesson.

Here’s what I realized:

We judge ourselves harshly. At the gym door, I focused only on my messy appearance. My neighbor, however, saw strength, discipline, and progress.

Presence is more than appearance. A simple posture shift — standing tall instead of slouching — changed how I responded in the first moment.

Words carry weight. A stranger’s lighthearted comment and a neighbor’s encouragement stayed with me for days. Small affirmations ripple far beyond the moment they’re spoken.

Takeaway for all of us:

We can’t always control how we look at 8:30 in the morning. But we can control our posture, our mindset, and the kindness we extend to others.

In leadership and in life, people won’t remember whether your hair was in place after a workout. They’ll remember how you showed up, how you carried yourself, and how you made them feel.

So the next time you notice someone, offer them a word of encouragement. You never know how far those words might carry.

✨ What about you? Have you ever had a passing comment stay with you longer than expected?