Wave To A Stranger Day.

by

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c is for connection.

There’s a story and, while I have no idea where it originated (urban legend? true tale spread through social media?), each time I read it I think:

YES. This. This is why we should smile, connect, wave to strangers.

The anecdote varies each time I encounter it, but its essence remains something like this:

I noticed my friend would wave to people when we were out walking together.

I noticed my friend would wave and smile at people when we would drive places together.

My friend was always waving and smiling at strangers.

Most of the time the people gave her funny looks.

Much of the time they neither smiled nor waved in return.

I finally asked my friend why she did this and she responded:

I’ve read a lot written by people who’ve attempted suicide and weren’t successful.

These people consistently said if just one person had smiled or waved at them they would have felt *seen* and might not have tried to kill themselves.

So I smile. And I wave.

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feeling even fleeting connection can change lives.

This story gets me every time.

Sure I’m aware, whether it happened or not, it oversimplifies depression and suicide.

And yet, mornings when we wake and wonder What can I do for someone else today?, the answer really can be as easy as smile and wave.

This story gets me every time because, whether it happened or not, it highlights the lack of connection many feel.

It underscores how feeling “seen” (no matter how briefly) may make all the difference.

And so that’s my ask of you today.

A request you make time to smile, wave and connect with a stranger.

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It can be a virtual-stranger (a message, tweet or fb posting checking in on him/her).

It can be a literal-stranger (I love to do this in my ‘hood whilst walking the Doodle).

And, as with our may-or-may-not-be-true tale, we might never know the impact of our efforts.

When it comes to being the light, however, we’ve got absolutely, positively nothing to lose.

Join me?

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Comments

  2. 100% YES! I do this all.the.time especially when running or biking. I also like to do it at the gym to those who feel especially intimidated just to be a friendly face and so they know this gym scene is not so scary after all…and hopefully it will keep them coming back!

  3. My dad always taught me growing up to wave at strangers. We always made a game of it and I thought it was fun as a kid to see if someone waved back or not. Now I wave at people because I know that just that simple gesture can make a difference <3

  5. YES YES YES.
    You never know who’s day you could be making.
    But practice discretion and try not to wave to crazy people, unless you have protection.

  7. I’ve been travelling to NYC a lot and have been surprised at how friendly people can be when you smile and say a few kind words. Of course, some are too busy to be bothered, but that’s OK too.

  9. When walking or driving through my neighborhood, or standing in my yard, i wave at everyone i pass or who passes me. My children, if they are with me, ask if i know those people, and usually the answer is no. They ask why i wave at people i don’t know, and i tell them it’s because they are my neighbors, and i want them to know i like them and care about them and our neighborhood, and i want us to be friendly and look out for each other here. They shake their heads like their mama is crazy, but that’s okay.

    Also i remind them about the elderly man who lived in our neighborhood for many years and used to sit on his front porch swing and wave to everyone who passed by, how everyone smiled at him. The children used to walk down there sometimes and sit and talk to him, listen to him tell stories about WWII (talk about great history lessons!). They enjoyed it so much, and they remember, and i think between his example and their crazy mama, they are starting to figure it out.

  13. I’m from the Deep South, so it’s common to wave as you drive by strangers, smile and say “hi” as you pass on the street, or strike up a 20-minute conversation about your life story in line at the deli. LOL. I love it most of the time. I think the world NEEDS more smiles, waves, and hellos. We’re all PEOPLE and I can attest to the fact that a nice gesture really can make your day. And, oversimplified or not, you never know what somebody is feeling or thinking on the inside. This was a beautiful post and made me a little misty-eyed.

  15. SO TRUE! A simple smile, that is all! I’m honestly flabbergasted by how often I see people just cold and rude and just generally inconsiderate of others. Yesterday when I was at the gym getting ready for work, a woman was standing somewhat close to the blow dryer. Another woman was trying to get ready and politely asked that woman if she was using the blow dryer. That woman replied “no” with a straight face and didn’t move. So the lady politely asked “ok, would you mind if I used the dryer for a minute?”. Instead of just nicely moving 2 steps to the left, she said “you know there is another one over there right?”

    The response was so cold and just flat out so rude, that I even felt uncomfortable. Like, why can’t we just be nice to one another? It would’ve taken zero time out of that lady’s day to move to the left 2 steps and probably require less energy to just say sure and smile.

    The other dryer was somewhat near me so of course I moved over 2 steps and encouraged the lady to come use the blow dryer. LONG story and kind of a tangent from yours, BUT the simple act of just being nice to someone or just even smiling at someone – even a stranger – could make the world of a difference!

    Great post Carla!

  16. Great post, Carla. Love that you are spreading the word–smiles and warmth. I think
    most people respond. I am always kind to people in stores, wherever I go. My husband and I walk each day and wave or say hello to everyone on our path. 75% respond, there are a few who do not. Their loss!! Beth

  17. What a great reminder! I can be a coldhearted city girl, rushing through my day not even seeing many of the people who cross my path. That’s sure not the kind of world I want to live in. I really appreciate the nudge toward humanity. Thanks 🙂

  18. Maybe it’s because I’m Canadian, but here it’s quite common, and normal to say hi to people you come across on sidewalks. When I’m walking my dog early in the morning, I feel safer when a passerby greets me than when they try to go unnoticed!

    • When I have been in Canada, I am always impressed by how friendly and polite people are! Never met a Canadian I didn’t like 🙂

  19. Wonderful! As a nurse, I spend the majority of my time with people who are not ‘at their best’. It is amazing what a kind word and smile can accomplish. I wish more people understood that.

  20. I’ve been saying hello to strangers for many years! When I went to med school in the Northeast I would say hi to other runners, but rarely had a response. I saw this one person several times, and just decided to run up to them, and say I had no agenda, was from the South, and was just being friendly. As it turned out we had lived in the same place once, and today, we still keep in touch and we have been friends for a long time!

    It’s free happiness.

  21. I do believe in the power of a simple smile or a wave! It’s so important to someone we’ll never know so thank you for reminding us! Brenda

  22. I do this when I run outside. Around here, it does surprise people. 🙂 Some wave & smile, some walk on, some are genuinely surprised but love it!

  23. It’s a “Quail Creek” thing. Whenever we pass someone walking, running, riding a bike, driving you wave. Oh I forgot when YOU ARE IN YOUR GOLF CART!!!! Everyone waves! It’s addicting and so much fun!

    • I think I need to live where you do. These days the KIDS (!) I see in golfcarts (DRIVING) are heads down texting. It’s. Terrifying. The mom in me wants to find out where they live and tell their mamas 🙂

  25. This is so very true. There have been many times when someone random has smiled, encouraged, or complimented me and it changed my whole outlook on the day. I’m about to go to the Home Depot and smile and random worker dudes. 😉

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