Say “Hello”

There is saying I heard many years ago from a friend. I don’t recall where the friend heard or read it but the saying was for me very profound. “I don’t care how much you know, until I know how much you care.” Most of us each day move about with blinders on, not seeing the person walking down the street. I challenge you each day to smile at or say hello to a stranger or call a loved one up or some form of spontaneous act of kindness. Yes, when out in public have discernment as to whom you are engaging but I would say the risk is very low to say a simple “Hello.” There is a story I heard from a woman when she was a teenager. She suffered from moderate to severe depression. She had to go to therapy appointments and had to ride the city bus to get to the appointments. Well, there was this one bus driver who when she got on the bus said hello to her. It was that simple gesture of saying hello that she felt acknowledged that helped her get through another day. You never know how you may brighten someone’s day, giving them hope to keep living.