During a recent visit to the mall, I accompanied my elderly father to buy a new pair of shoes. At 92 years old, outings like this are slow-paced but meaningful. After shopping, we stopped at the food court for a quick meal.
While we were eating, I noticed my father quietly observing a teenager seated nearby. The young person had brightly colored, spiked hair—shades of green, red, orange, and blue. My father didn’t try to hide his curiosity, and the teenager eventually noticed the repeated glances.
After a moment, the teenager addressed him with a hint of sarcasm:
“Is something wrong? Never done anything wild in your life?”
Anticipating my father’s response, I paused mid-bite. He’s known for his dry humor and thoughtful delivery.
Without missing a beat, my father smiled calmly and replied,
“Son, I once trusted a barber who promised just a trim.”
The unexpected response caught the teenager off guard. My father leaned back, letting the moment settle before continuing.
He explained that experimentation, mistakes, and bold choices are not exclusive to youth—they’re simply memories that look different with time. Every generation, he said, finds its own way to stand out, and later realizes that those differences are far smaller than they once seemed.
The tension eased. The teenager smiled, then laughed. What followed was a brief but genuine conversation about music, change, and how time has a way of humbling everyone equally.
As we got up to leave, my father gave me a subtle wink. In that moment, I was reminded that wisdom doesn’t need to be loud to make an impact—it just needs the right moment.