A black and white sketch of a frog, wearing a white untucked tee shirt, jeans and work boots talking with a woman outside of a store front.

2 Reasons a Nod’s as Good as a Word

April 11, 2025

I’ve never been much for rambling. Words, I mean—I’ve got plenty of thoughts, but they mostly live in my head or land right here in these blog posts. Day to day, I don’t say much. And if I can get the point across with a nod, well, that’s even better.Down here, that’s not unusual. You’ll pass someone on the way to the store, nod once, and they’ll nod back. Might be the only exchange all day, but somehow it says everything: I see you. I respect you. We’re good.

That’s why I like the phrase: “A nod’s as good as a word.”Nothing in particular brought this to mind today. I was just sitting out front, sipping coffee, thinking about how often a small, quiet moment can carry more weight than a whole conversation. So I figured I’d write about it.

Here are two times when a nod says all you need.

1. When you want to convey respect.

There’s something solid about a quiet nod between folks who understand each other. No need for compliments, no grand gesture—just that simple tilt of the head that says, “You did good.” I’ve had folks help me fix a flat, folks who let me go first in line, folks who let me ease into traffic. I may not have said much, but I gave them a nod. And that nod meant everything I couldn’t put into words.

Respect doesn’t always need to be loud. In fact, sometimes the quietest gestures speak the loudest.

2. When words might get in the way.

Ever have a moment so honest, so true, that adding words would only mess it up? That’s where a nod comes in.

There’s a stillness in shared understanding. A friend might be going through something hard, and you don’t need to offer advice—they already know you’re there. A nod across the porch, the table, the parking lot—that’s enough.

Sometimes the best comfort you can give is your presence. Just being there. Just acknowledging or nodding. And science backs that up, too—[this article on nonverbal communication] shows that body language can carry more emotional meaning than words ever could.

The Beauty of Saying Less

Don’t get me wrong—I believe in the power of words. But there’s also a quiet kind of wisdom in learning when not to speak.So if you ever cross paths with me and I don’t say a thing, don’t take it wrong. If I nod your way, I’ve already said more than enough.