A few weeks ago, I was hiking with my kids. The mountains were holding their breath, the air warm and still. As we passed others on the trail, I caught myself doing what I’ve always done—meeting eyes, offering a smile, sharing a greeting. That day, I used it as a lesson for my boys: notice the way people meet you, not to judge, but to understand the power of acknowledgment. Some share it openly, others keep it inside. But when someone brings joy to the world in that moment, it’s worth thanking them for it. Because these small gestures are the stitches that hold us together.

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