For Clinton Tavares from Goa, a morning run is not only about staying fit. Somewhere between one stretch of the road and the next, he makes time to notice people and give them a reason to smile.
He may spot a man with a beard and tell him he has “the coolest beard”, or notice someone’s backpack and stop to say, “That’s a really cool backpack.” A woman in a sari gets a warm compliment, while another person is greeted with, “Good morning.”
It is a small habit, but one that feels especially meaningful at a time when people are rushing through their days, looking at their phones or carrying worries of their own.
His interactions are spontaneous. He sees someone he likes and says so. When he meets a man named Raj, for instance, he learns that he is 62 and immediately tells him, “That’s young. That’s quite young.” When Raj reveals that he is a karate trainer, the conversation turns into a brief exchange of encouragement before Clinton continues his run.
A few kind words can go a long way
There are many such moments. He tells someone they are doing a great job and asks them to “Keep going”. He spots a football jersey and playfully asks, “You are Ronaldo, right?” Elsewhere, he tells a woman, “You’re a really good mom.”
None of these conversations lasts very long. But perhaps that is the point.
Spreading happiness does not always need a grand gesture. Sometimes, it is noticing another person. A compliment, a smile, or a genuine “How are you?” can interrupt an ordinary morning and make someone feel seen.
Clinton shares these encounters on Instagram through@clinton_tavares, where he describes himself as a reel creator. His bio carries a simple message: “No human is limited.”
His morning runs seem to carry another untold message too. In a world where there is already plenty to worry about, being the person who adds a little happiness to someone else’s day costs very little.
For him, it happens one run, one stranger, and one kind word at a time.
