Hello

11/7/21

[həˈlō, heˈlō]

EXCLAMATION

1. used as a greeting

This evening, at the gas pump, a child said hello to me from the other side of the pump. It is something that happens now and then, a stranger sees a stranger without carrying the weight of experience of rude and selfish people and behaviors out there and projecting that onto another. I looked back at this stranger with my five decades of experience of people and events that were unpleasant......... and also many beautiful experiences to draw from too. I started to recall moments such as hearing the Jackson 5 and Three Dog Night on the radio during an evening trip to get groceries at age 4, an otherwise mundane moment in time made permanently profound by simple joys. It reminded me how each moment matters, a little kindness and "Joy to the world" can go a long way, even 50 years or more. I returned the child's friendly greeting with a far heartier hello than I have in the past.