Friday, July 15, 2005

Small things

The scene: yesterday morning, on the bike path a couple of km away from my house. Two little girls - maybe 3-ish and 5-ish - are walking toward me, a few meters ahead of their Mom. I'm riding my bike to work, in my usual early-morning haze of I'm-not-up-yet thought.

What happens next: the smaller munchkin sees me approach, smiles and waves. Her sister pickes up the cue and does the same thing. I smile back, broadly, because this just doesn't happen in this day and age.

Mom sees me smiling, laughs and says hi. We all continue in our opposite directions, all in a better mood than before our paths first crossed.

The takeaway: Small things make a big difference in the trajectories of our lives.

Your turn: How would you like to influence the life of a stranger the next time you're out and about? Can something as small as a friendly smile and wave make that much of a difference?
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14 comments:

Jack Steiner said...

A smile never hurts.

2:38 PM, July 16, 2005
Anonymous said...

Well... where I live EVERYONE (well, almost everyone) smile and waves at everyone else... it's a daily thing here. I speak to my neighbors everytime they are out... I wave at a car as it passes and always say hello to folks.... I'm just good like that, eh? :) Here from Michele's today.

3:37 PM, July 16, 2005
Anonymous said...

Hello, Michele sent me!

Depends on where you are...in New York, if you smile, they may think you are hitting on them and blast you with pepper spray! ;) However, I live in a small town for the time being, and small communities do really appreciate nice gestures, even just a smile, but most to verbally greet you and talk to you, too.

3:54 PM, July 16, 2005
kenju said...

Of course it makes a difference, Carmi. A smile, a thank you and/or a please is always well received!

I came to see you because I caused you to get skipped at Michele's a few minutes ago. Always nice to read your well-written posts!

4:08 PM, July 16, 2005
Catherine Detweiler said...

Here via Michele's Meet & Greet. I agree wholeheartedly, and often smile and greet strangers I encounter. I've even been known to start a conversation on an elevator!

4:13 PM, July 16, 2005
Dawn said...

a smile and a wave are a great start. You never know what may make a change in the way a person is feeling.

I am here via Michele

4:13 PM, July 16, 2005
Nic said...

Great post! I firmly believe that smiles are priceless and they are free to give away. Think about smiling at the worn looking waitress, or at the harried postal worker. You will see huge difference in the way their attitudes change.

Hi from Michele's today Carmi.

4:27 PM, July 16, 2005
Anonymous said...

Oh yes.. a smile and a 'hello' can really make a difference.. so 'Hello Carmi' and I'm smiling :)

here via Michele's

4:33 PM, July 16, 2005
Anonymous said...

I'm still here. London is a detached place generally, but since the bombs last week there has been a noticeable need for people to connect with each other more than usual- definitely more smiles in evidence, and a good thing too.

5:42 PM, July 16, 2005
Tammy said...

Well, I work with the public and I'm here to tell you that yes, a smile can make a difference...a big difference!

8:11 PM, July 16, 2005
Christine said...

Absolutely! One of the things I love about rural Wyoming is how many smiles and waves you get from strangers. Just a week or so ago we decided to take an unknown dirt road just for fun, and came upon the cutest little boy (in a giant cowboy hat!) with his dad. They both started waving at us, and gestured to us to honk the horn. We honked at them, which was followed by big smiles and more waving. We all need more friendliness.

9:52 PM, July 16, 2005
Misti said...

when someone is kind enough to hold the door open for me, it makes my day.
and if i see a mom with a liitle one i offer to take her cart for her. I know how it is in the parking lot and small children.

12:04 AM, July 17, 2005
MorahMommy said...

One of the things I love most about living in London is that people are so friendly. Do you remember when we first moved here? We would go for a walk and when we would pass someone they would smile and say hello. We used to look over our shoulders to see who they were talking to. What a surprise, it was us!

Whenever I am out, I always smile and say hello.

6:22 PM, July 18, 2005
Dean said...

I waved something at the moron who passed me on the shoulder (at 130 kmh!) this morning.

I doubt it improved his day, but I felt marginally better.

3:12 PM, July 19, 2005

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