You Had Me At…Hello!

By Author Mara Prose on 7 Mar 2016 • ( 0 )

Jena C. Henry photo

Today’s blog is courtesy of my new friend and talented fellow author, Jena C. Henry!

Do you know about World Hello Day? Thanks to social media, we are urged to reach out and interact with others. Science tells us that social contact with real people is vital to our wellbeing. We all know that it feels good to be connected with people.

World Hello Day is celebrated on November 21. Since 1973, people have celebrated World Hello Day by greeting 10 people, to promote peace through communication. This past November, my husband and I decided to embrace the promise of World Hello Day.

“Let’s talk to everyone we meet. Let’s chat with everyone in America! Or even the world!”

We have always been friendly- waving to neighbors we pass, making small talk with people in line. Starting on November 21, we decided to up our game and make an effort to greet and get to know as many folks as we could. So what if we would now become those two old goats who want to talk your ear off about the good old days?

We are on our way to getting to know everyone in the world. Here’s how we have made it fun:

Spirit Wear– We wear t-shirts that support our favorite teams. If our team is doing well, people give us high-fives and we chat about possible championships. If the team is struggling, we commiserate together. After you say, “Hello!”, sports are a great ice-breaker.We also try to notice other folks’ interests. My husband spotted a lady at the drycleaner wearing a hat with the Roads Scholar logo. We had a fun conversation with her about traveling.
Eavesdrop- While riding a shuttle bus at an airport, we overheard the couple next to us worrying that they weren’t going to get home in time to dry out their cod. We chuckled and decided to interrupt them and learn more. Turns out they were heading home to start their preparations for their Christmas Eve Feast of the Seven Fishes. We enjoyed their tales of their Italian grandma and large, lively family.
Smile- Sometimes a friendly smile and pleasant eye contact is all it takes to get to know someone. We met a former NFL linebacker in a hotel hot tub and loved his memories of his glory days. We also chatted with a Virginia tobacco farmer at a rest stop on the highway.

Try the promise of World Hello Day, connect with others and recharge your happiness battery. But consider yourself warned. If you see two grey heads with sports caps and t-shirts sitting at your favorite bistro, hiking a scenic trail, or squeezing the produce at the grocery, walk away unless you want to chat about the weather, traffic, vacation, and our dog and kids for the next hour. My spouse and I look forward to getting to know you! Happy World Hello Day!

JCH HeadShot copy

Biography- Jena C. Henry
Jena C. Henry holds a juris doctor degree from the University of Akron and practiced
law while raising her family in tropical Ohio. Now retired, she writes, hosts writing
workshops and enjoys good times with friends and family. The Golden Age of Charli-RSVP is her first novel in a planned series, spotlighting the highs and lows a spunky couple faces in retirement.

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