When I take my older dog for a walk, his steps aren’t as quick as they once were.

The years have slowed him down. Sometimes he drags a little, his head drops, his gait grows heavy.

But if I give him a word of encouragement, a simple “that’s a good boy” or a pat on the side, he perks right back up.

It is as if a switch flips. He hitches his step, lifts his head and walks with renewed energy.

The praise does not erase the years in his joints, but it does something inside him that makes the weight easier to carry.

It struck me recently that people are not all that different. We believe we are tougher, more independent, less swayed by a stray word here or there.

But the truth is, a word of encouragement can carry us further than we realize. A compliment at the right time, recognition for

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