Hello Stranger

My son Fisher has always had a big, kind heart. Ever since he could talk he was the kid in the stroller that would say hello to everyone we passed on our walks. He did this completely of his own accord, and sometimes the people he'd greet would not return any words. It always broke my heart, especially when he'd ask why that certain so-and-so didn't say hello back. I always told him that not everyone is used to saying hello to people they pass on the streets, that not everyone is as open and talkative, and that he should never let that keep him from being the friendly kid he is. Most of the time though people would respond to his greetings. You could see the warm surprise register on their faces. He must have noticed this too--must have seen how just a simple hello from his beautiful little sunny face brightened the world that much more--because he's 5 now and still doing it. There was one day during this long cold winter when I picked him up from school and we were driving home on our regular route through downtown and happened to be stopped at a stop light when he rolled his window down. "Hi!" he shouted to a woman standing on the corner bus stop. She didn't say anything back but she gave a shocked smile. She was weighed down with bags, worn out from what must have been a long day of work, and staring blankly at the sidewalk. And here's this little kid hailing from the back seat of a car. "You know what, Fisher," I told him--"that woman might have been having a long stressful day, maybe she wasn't feeling great, and your hello made her feel better. She'll go home now and carry your voice with her and when she reflects on her day she'll remember your kindness. It's the simple little things that can go a long way." I imagine she has told people about it--this little boy who rolled down his window and said hello to her. We see her most days when I drive him home from school now, and every time we do the same magic happens--he rolls his window down and shouts hello and she comes out of her blank reverie and smiles like it's the first time anyone has taken the time to notice her all day long. This has been going on for months. I think she looks for our car now in anticipation of their sweet little exchange, and now her responding hello's are just as bold and enthusiastic. It's a small act, but to give recognition to another human being is a grand thing. Just to pause for a beat to smile and say hello to a stranger, just to get out of our own heads for even a second to notice someone--it is enough to make the world that much better.