A follow-up to my May 28 post, An Experiment Worth Trying: One of my neighbors brought me a torn-out Reader Digest page–letters on the December issue–that she knew I’d appreciate. The first letter, from a woman read:
I served in the Air Force for 28 years, and one of the first things I was taught was to greet everyone, regardless of rank. This simple act establishes a connection–whether it’s between spouses or strangers–that really does make a difference. I hope this catches on.
Another talked about a visit to China where he’d practiced saying ni hao to anyone he encountered. At first he assumed that because most passersby responded with a smile, that Chinese people were more friendly than Americans. Then he tested his assumption:
Back at home, I read Joe Kita’s article and decided to try it here. Guess what? Americans can be just as friendly.
Naturally, I then looked up the article, “What If You Said Hello to Everyone in Your Path for Month.” Kita, who draws on research showing the salutary effects of social connection on health and productivity, saw the results for himself:
After a month of doing it, I feel lighter and more connected and I have a better sense of well-being.
If we put our minds to it, many (perhaps most?) of us can master the smile-and-hello stage–and will be the better for it. But Juan Mann, an Australian man, took the idea a step further with his ”free hugs campaign.” Check out his official website and video. No researchers have been called in to measure the effects of Mann’s work, but you can’t argue his intent: ”to reach out and hug a stranger to brighten up their lives.”
