Last night, I – along with most residents of my city – watched our team win the NBA championship for the 5th time! Afterward, I was pumped up enough to go for a short run through my neighborhood. All around, people were celebrating with fireworks, honking and cheering out their car windows. As I ran down the street, I approached a man walking in the opposite direction, presumably heading home from a nearby sports bar. When he opened his mouth to address me, I wasn’t sure what would come out. To my surprise he simply said, “You have a great night!” and continued along. I can say, that is the first time I’ve ever passed a man while running and received that type of comment. Obviously, it was a night of good feelings and camaraderie among my fellow San Antonians.
The experience made me feel great…how amazing would it be if this were always the type of commentary we shared with strangers on the street!
What can we do create more street respect?
Keep that neighborly spirit alive! Treat each other as friends and neighbors, not as subjects for rudeness, jokes or crass commentary. Brighten someone’s day rather than dampen it. Set a good example for your friends and bystanders by treating passersby with courtesy and respect.
– Sarah
Location: San Antonio, Texas
This is part of the series “Street Respect. “Street respect” is the term for respectful, polite, and consensual interactions that happen between strangers in public spaces. It’s the opposite of “street harassment.” Share your street respect story and show the kind of interactions you’d like to have in public in place of street harassment.
