When I was a kid, it was customary to wave or smile at people in passing. That was just the thing to do. I grew up in Atlanta, where I still reside, and that was considered "southern hospitality". When you asked people how they were doing, they actually told you. So being raised this way, I still smile and wave and people look at me like I have six heads. I mean, what's up?
Today I went to the Chinese food restaurant and ordered my dinner, the first thing I do when I have money to spare. As I waited for my food, I smiled at the other customers, did a little wave, and was met with no response. The woman beside me refused to look at me. I mean, refused. I purposely stared at her, nothing.
It is like people are literally afraid to have any type of contact with anyone. They are contact resistant, averting eyes and ignoring friendly waves. This is a sad thing to me. Casual kindness is what I felt separated the south from the north and west. Are we even human anymore when we refuse to connect with people without the aid of a cell phone? I think that this attitude is making the people in my community cold and impersonal. And yes, this is a bad thing.
My faith in humanity was renewed on Thursday when I met a young girl on the bus in a life guard uniform. She had just graduated high school and was working at White Water all summer until it was time for her to go in the marines. What a sweetheart this kid was! She told me all about her Afro-Cuban heritage and we compared our green toe colors. I was so happy to meet a southerner who was nice...until she told me she was from L.A. Los Angeles?! Sigh.
Do me a favor and wave to someone tomorrow with a smile. I promise, it will only take a sec and won't ruin your day. I may sound like an extra from Barney, but I promise, a little kindness goes a long way.
