I come from a family of phenomenal greeters. As a child I remember my parents often smiling at passersby in public places. My siblings, cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents are experts are making new friends feel welcome. This point of pride is just one of the many reasons I feel like I won a lottery in this life."Good things happen when you meet strangers"- Yo Yo Ma
Thus, its become an important part of my daily practice. I try my best to greet or acknowledge the others I meet on my path, no matter where it might be. Admittedly, this doesn't always make me the best one-on-one conversationalist. And at times I've had angry people try to pick fights with me over making eye contact. But most of the time the experience is positive.
It doesn't have to be a huge gesture. I feel that even a nod communicates... something. Solidarity? Trust? Maybe its just about acknowledging all of the strange and different experiences that have brought our paths together. Or maybe its just about sharing a moment. I'll even entertain the thought that all of us are one and the same organism, each of us a sensory pod contributing to the ever-blooming collective consciousness. That acknowledging others is about acknowledging myself in a way.
Through trying to make eye contact, I've noticed that many people prefer to feign ignorance of my passing. And truthfully, I still have many moments where I treat our shared experiences as though they were limitless and unremarkable. Indeed, there is something about the society in which I grew up that seems to promote a sense of "life as entitlement". So many of us are surrounded by such wonderful people and curious opportunities. It's a shame that so many have also grown so accustomed to having these gifts that nothing at all seems to sparkle.
Life does not seem as dull here. Certainly not as thankless.
It's customary in Ghana to greet everyone you pass. In fact, it's considered bad form to conduct business of any sort, without first engaging in some preliminary small-talk. If society may be considered to be a fabric, then surely its stitches are the individual interactions we have with one another. I've learned to appreciate just how supportive the practice of greeting strangers can be for society.
Our daily interactions matter. Whether we choose to ignore this fact or not, well that's where we have a choice.
Today I've been imagining what conflict resolution would look like if both parties were cordial before duking out their defenses?
How far do the effects of kindness and respect really travel?
I really enjoy these SoulPancake projects. Such a nice reminder of the hidden awesome found in everything with a little effort. There's some good things happening in the world. You're probably part of them.
And for that, I nod in your general direction.
