The following is an experiment that has been done before. The subject in charge of this current trial will not take any credit for this. The experiment goes as follows:
Say hi to people you encounter throughout your day.
Description of trial: It can be anyone. If someone looks up at you as you walk past them on the sidewalk, say hi to them. Anywhere.
This does not mean you have to engage in a full on conversation with this person and tell them every deep dark secret you’ve ever had. It just means you have to say one word.
And it sounds crazy as I continue to grow older and more observant, I realize that we spend most of our lives not saying hi.
We live in a world where first impressions are never right; a place where talking to strangers is not a norm unless you want something at a store or company. And that just bothers me because there are people out there who may need someone like you to just talk to them for a few seconds.
All it takes is a few seconds to make someone’s day; you never truly know when a hi is needed.
We’ve grown up being told stranger danger but every good pal we end up having in our lives was once a stranger. Of course, there must still be caution in what you do and say but that doesn’t mean you have to look at someone and just walk right away.
I’ve spent the last week saying hi to people. The guy on the park bench looked at me, heard me, look surprised, said hi back real fast, and then smiled.
The lady in a rush past me shot hello back really quick and let out a deep breath she probably didn’t even know she was holding.
And it made me feel better to know that I made someone perk up, even if it was for a few mere seconds.
The world needs more hello’s to be said. You never know how much a hello can save someone.
So give it a try for a week. Now and again you won't get a response in return but to those who do respond, you'll be glad you said something.
Be nice to everyone for you don't know what they could be going through and it's rude to be mean. We’ve grown out of our childhood years seeing reality finally and thinking the world is a mean horrible place most of the time. Let's change that.
A hello isn't going to do that much but it'll do enough.
Enough small acts of kindness and courtesy will add up.
It’s not too late.