I Believe in The Quiet Force of Strangers to Change Lives.

I see it constantly - in my work, on my travels, and at the edges of the world that I climb.

Why do gifts from strangers stay with us forever?

**They're wildly unexpected

**They make us feel seen by someone we’ve never tried to know

**They’re offered freely – with no strings or expectations

It’s never about income, age, job title, or social clout. The one thing we all possess is personal power - something no one can buy from you, force out of you, or fake. It has to be given. And that’s what makes it truly powerful.

Here’s a story I’ve never stopped carrying:

I was preparing for a major solo climb and staying in an old Motel 6--- more like your grandma’s house than a commercial chain. The cleaning woman there, Native American and quietly observant, watched me each morning as I left at 5am.

On the third day, she stepped forward and handed me a small object. “This belongs to you,” she said. “My grandfather carved this and gave it to me when I was a child, but it never held my energy. Since I first saw you, it’s been calling me to restore it to you. In my tradition, this blesses us both.”

I found out later, it was a Zuni mountain lion fetish, nearly 50 years old, carved and signed by a famous elder whose work is in the Smithsonian.

I took it on that climb. And every climb since.

She didn’t ask for my name. I never got hers. But I carry her gift, and her blessing and traditions, into every summit I touch.

This is why I believe in strangers. You could be working at Walmart, a call center, The Four Seasons, United Airlines… or simply walking your dog. You have the power to change someone’s life. To make your energy unforgettable.

The most meaningful gifts require nothing but heart - and the choice to give.