Last weekend, I took my 92-year-old dad to the mall to buy new shoes. After trying several pairs, we sat in the food court to rest. Nearby,
a teenager with bright green, orange, blue, and red hair caught Dad’s attention. Instead of judgment, Dad looked at him with quiet curiosity.
The teen noticed and, half-smiling, asked, “What’s wrong, old man? Never seen anything like this before?” I froze,
unsure how Dad would react. But he calmly set down his fork and replied gently, “When I was your age,
I didn’t have colorful hair, but I tried to make the world brighter — through kindness, respect, and joy.”
The boy’s smirk faded as Dad added, “It’s great that you express yourself through color. Just remember — the brightest thing you can share is your character.”
The teen nodded, smiling softly. “Thank you,” he said, before turning back to his meal. Dad went back to eating as if nothing special
had happened — but to me, it was everything. His few words showed that real wisdom isn’t loud or complicated — it’s simple, kind, and full of grace.
