On my way back from my 11 km walk today, I saw a woman who instantly caught my attention. She was dressed in a way I rarely see: tattoos winding across her arms, a shiny black leather dress catching the afternoon light. There was something unapologetically her about it, something bold and free. I thought she looked beautiful. Unique. Alive.

For a moment, I wanted to stop and tell her just that. I wanted to say, “You look amazing. The world is brighter because of people like you.” I wanted to give her the kind of compliment that affirms someone’s individuality, not just their appearance.

But I didn’t. I let the moment pass. She walked by, and I stayed silent.

It made me wonder how many times we keep our admiration locked inside, how often we miss the chance to give someone a gift of words they might carry with them for days. Was I afraid she’d think I was strange? Or that my sincerity would be misunderstood? Probably. But isn’t it sad that fear so often keeps us from kindness?

It made me think about how often we miss moments like this. How many times have I admired someone’s courage, beauty, or kindness and said nothing? How often have I withheld words that could have made someone’s day brighter? I wonder how many compliments never leave our lips because we are too afraid of being vulnerable, too worried about looking foolish, too tangled in our own self-consciousness.

I don’t know if I’ll ever see her again. But today she reminded me how striking it is when people dare to be themselves. And I reminded myself how important it is to speak when we feel something true, before the moment slips away.

Maybe the next time I see someone who inspires me, I’ll speak. Perhaps the next time, I’ll let my admiration find its way out of my chest and into the world, instead of keeping it locked away. I hope so. Because the world doesn’t just need more people who dare to stand out, it also needs more people who dare to notice, and to say so.

WANDERING HELEN