The Importance of Situational Awareness: A Real-Life Example

The other night, my wife, Peppa, and I were out for a walk when two guys started closing in behind us. At first, I didn’t think much of it, but they stayed a little too close for too long. You know that gut feeling when something just doesn’t sit right? I figured it was better to be proactive than let the situation develop into something worse.

As they followed us, I glanced back a few times to make it clear I saw them and they were on my radar. I kept it non-aggressive but obvious. Still, they kept closing in, getting uncomfortably close. So I finally turned around and said, “You guys good? You’re getting a little close for my taste, and you’re making me nervous. I’m from the Bronx, and this type of thing usually leads to bad results.”

I wasn’t trying to be aggressive or escalate things—just letting them know I was aware. Sometimes, a little confidence and directness is enough to deter someone who might be thinking about doing something stupid.

They mumbled something and moved along, no big deal. To soften things up a bit, I followed up with, “Were you guys just using us to shield yourselves from the wind?” That got a laugh out of them, and they kept walking toward a chicken spot.

The whole thing was a good reminder of how important it is to stay situationally aware, especially when you’re with the people (and pup) you care about most.