I took my 92-year-old dad to the mall recently to shop for new shoes. We grabbed a bite at the food court, where he quietly watched a teenager sitting nearby.

The teen had bright, multi-colored hair—green, red, orange, and blue—styled boldly and without hesitation.

Each time the teen glanced our way, he noticed my dad looking at him. My dad wasn’t staring out of judgment; he was simply intrigued.

Eventually, the teen grew irritated and asked, “Is something wrong, sir?” My dad didn’t get defensive or annoyed. Instead, he gave a gentle smile that immediately softened the moment.