> > > HELLO DAY > > "Hello! I just wanted to tell you that you do an incredible job > keeping this place clean," I told the maintenance man in the mall food > court. I think I shocked him. He looked up and pausing for a moment said, > "Well, thank you. I really appreciate that." > I believe he did. > I've done this all of my life. I go out of my way to make a comment > to someone or to break an awkward silence in a moment that finds us > speechless. I compliment people for their work who are normally taken for > granted, over looked, by passed, ignored or unappreciated. > Yesterday, I challenged myself to speak to as many strangers as I > could in a short period of time. I complimented them, I chit chatted, or I > simply said "Hello!" And I said, "Thanks, my friend." I picked that up > from Bill Cosby's son who was killed a few years back in California. Bill > said that his son always greeted people that way. > So, I've created what I call "Hello Day." > This idea came about because of the story I had written recently, "I > Wish You Enough." My focus was on how difficult it is for me to say > "Goodbye." The response to that story was simply amazing. Some people > wrote to me to share regrets over lost opportunities to tell someone > goodbye. Some wrote to thank me for making them more aware. Some adopted > the idea and promised to start using the phrase, "I wish you enough," > whenever they said so long. > I am asked many times how I get to meet so many wonderful people. > It's simply because I say "Hello" first. > The final line in the piece I wrote says, > "I wish enough 'Hello's' to get you through the final 'Goodbye.'" > So my "Hello Day" was created to make the final goodbye easier > knowing that so many people have touched my life. > My first day at the mall was a success. After telling the maintenance > man he was doing a great job, I walked over to the lady who served me my > slice of pizza and told her how incredible it was. Her face lit up and her > smile was worth the cost of lunch. I'd pay to see it again. > I then walked over to the newsstand. Buying a pack of gum, I > scrambled to find something to say. Looking down, I saw a counter display > for an herbal energy bar that said, "The herbal bar that works." > I asked if I could purchase the kind that doesn't work. He smiled and > said, "You know some advertising guru is driving a Mercedes because he gets > paid to come up with witty lines like that. You and I have to work for a > living." > We both laughed. I said, "Thanks, my friend." Then walked away. I > watched the man for a moment and that smile stayed with him even though the > next four people never said a word to him. > So here's my challenge to you. Pick one day a week and declare it > your "Hello Day." See how many people you can say hello to, make a comment > to, compliment, or enlighten. When you get comfortable enough with the > idea, challenge yourself to speak to as many people as you can in the > shortest period of time. > You'll look like the mayor of the town. You'll shine like a star. > And you'll feel like a million. > > -- Bob Perks »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§« You're Just Jealous Because The Voices Are Talking To Me Richiele Sloan ICQ #63829109 (Missi) »§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«:*´`³¤³´`*:»§«