Not long ago, I found myself at the memorial service for a friend’s father. I’d never met him, but everyone – friends, colleagues, even people who’d spent just a few minutes with him – said the same thing: “He made you feel like you were the only person in the world.”
Have you ever felt truly seen by a stranger? Understood, as if the world suddenly fades away and it’s just the two of you. When this happens, you remember it. Forever.
These aren’t acts of pity or charity. They’re about dignity. Respect. Understanding.
Imagine being a lost child at a parade. You’re crying. The crowd is a blur. You’re terrified. Then a police officer kneels down, wipes your tears, lets you try on his big hat, and keeps you safe until your parents find you. That child was me, and decades later, I still remember his kindness.
Or picture yourself as a nervous instructor clutching your notes in a foreign country, in an empty elevator when the university president steps inside. You brace for awkward small talk, but instead, he asks your name, what you are up to, and actually listens to your answer. When the doors open, you step out with more confidence. That instructor was me, and years later, I still tell that story.
What ties these moments together? It’s not money or status. It’s presence. The simple, radical act of giving someone your undivided attention. In a world where everyone’s eyes are glued to their phones and conversations are half-hearted, real presence is almost magical.
Think back: when was the last time someone listened to you, really listened? No advice, no interruptions, just attention. How did it make you feel?
That’s the real secret to being unforgettable. It’s not about grand gestures or perfect words. It’s about putting your own worries aside long enough to see and hear someone else. A world leader pausing to kneel by a sick child. A chef stepping out of a busy kitchen to sit with an elderly regular.
These aren’t acts of pity or charity. They’re about dignity. Respect. Understanding.
So how do you do it? Put your phone away. Look someone in the eye. Ask their name, and use it. Look at them. Ask questions. Listen.
Treat everyone you meet, no matter who they are or how long you’ll know them, with dignity, with the belief that, for just a moment, they are the center of your universe. Because in a world that forgets us in a heartbeat, presence is unforgettable. Kindness is unforgettable. The gift of being truly seen is unforgettable.
You may not remember every stranger you meet. But you’ll never forget the ones who made you feel like you mattered. And you can be that person for someone else. Give someone the gift of being seen. You might just change their day – or their life. And you’ll be remembered.