Saying hello to strangers

Making connections with other people is one of the paths to joy, especially if you’re connecting with people from a genuine space of interest in them. Sometimes we can get so busy that we forget about the small things, like making contact and saying hello to the people we pass by.

We can often tell when someone isn’t in the space to want a hello, so I’m not suggesting you say it to anyone who doesn’t seem open to it, but more people are open than not in my experience. I find children and elderly people are very open to hellos from me.

Because I like to look up when I’m out and about, I have to practice and remind myself to look at people and greet them. The simple act of acknowledging another person is a recognition of their humanity and their space in the world. By doing it you are saying “You matter. You are worthy.” to those you interact with. I often think that for some people my hello could be the only human interaction someone gets all day and maybe my hello has made someone’s morning.

When I meet people I try and look at their eyes and meet them there, rather than focusing on their looks or what they are wearing. I want to meet the spirit of the person, and that rarely resides in a pair of shoes or a coat.

Eye contact and ‘hello’ are two underrated, powerful things you can do to both bring joy and receive joy. Why don’t you give it a go…(Font on the video is dyslexic friendly for greater accessibility)

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