Red fire box at intersection of Clark and Spring streets with “Always Say Hello” sticker.
On an antique red fire box at the corner of Spring and Clark, amidst a spattering of tags and stickers, are two yellow circles with the message “Always Say Hello”.
What good does saying “hello” do when you look at the state we’re in?
Anger, fear, isolation, cynicism, complacency are tangled into a ball of worry and uncertainty. Being whipsawn by political news on a daily or even hourly basis leaves you exhausted emotionally, even physically. So many appalling things happening at once.
You want to DO something, but what difference can you as an ordinary person make? You’re not a fairy godmother who can wave a magic wand and make everything better, but you’re also not incapable of making a difference. How? Every one of us needs to answer that in our own way that we think will matter.
Look for a spark
Maybe your spark comes from making and displaying a sign. It’s an act to get you and others moving.-Photos courtesy of R. Graef
When you’re thinking about all that’s going on, it’s important to identify one to three things you deeply, deeply care about and that spark your energy. Clean air and water, due process, education, food safety, free press, health care, human rights, something else? Then ask yourself why you care about this. How does this affect you, your friends and family, your city, your country, the world, the future?
Next, what do your energy, time, and abilities allow you to do? Call or write to elected officials? Write letters to the editor? Join ad hoc groups or participate in protests? Put a sign in your window or on your car? Or maybe go personal and public by making a simple, respectful sign about what’s happening right now that you care about?
Then take your sign and quietly stand for an hour on a public sidewalk near a place that’s relevant to your concern. These are acts of communication that, however local and simple, can move people and change society.
Create and share a common effort; maybe someone you already know will join you. Others who see you will show up if you’re persistent and consistent.
Make a connection
It may make you nervous just thinking about it, but communication begins just by making a connection. It’s like flipping a switch or striking a match. Get someone’s attention and then give them yours.
Start with the easy topics. “What a beautiful day!… Don’t you just love ice cream?… You look great in that color!” Or the old favorite if there’s a canine companion, “Are you a good dog?”
Look for things you have in common. That’s how community starts and mutual commitment grows. Anything that can make someone smile and feel better, even for a moment, is a contribution to a better society.
One day the conversation will move beyond ice cream and dogs and you’ll find more shared interests, opinions, and experiences, as well as some points of difference. If you’re lucky you’ll find yourself understanding more about life and what really matters: kindness, respect, wonder. And you’ll have a cadre of folks you can count on and who can count on you.
In the meantime, “Always Say Hello”. That’s how good things start.
Rosanne Graef and Pamela Shaw are West End residents.
In Times Like These, Always Say Hello
La Vida Local
Irregular Notes on West End Life & Beyond
In Times Like These, Always Say Hello
By Rosanne Graef & Pamela Shaw
On an antique red fire box at the corner of Spring and Clark, amidst a spattering of tags and stickers, are two yellow circles with the message “Always Say Hello”.
What good does saying “hello” do when you look at the state we’re in?
Anger, fear, isolation, cynicism, complacency are tangled into a ball of worry and uncertainty. Being whipsawn by political news on a daily or even hourly basis leaves you exhausted emotionally, even physically. So many appalling things happening at once.
You want to DO something, but what difference can you as an ordinary person make? You’re not a fairy godmother who can wave a magic wand and make everything better, but you’re also not incapable of making a difference. How? Every one of us needs to answer that in our own way that we think will matter.
Look for a spark
When you’re thinking about all that’s going on, it’s important to identify one to three things you deeply, deeply care about and that spark your energy. Clean air and water, due process, education, food safety, free press, health care, human rights, something else? Then ask yourself why you care about this. How does this affect you, your friends and family, your city, your country, the world, the future?
Next, what do your energy, time, and abilities allow you to do? Call or write to elected officials? Write letters to the editor? Join ad hoc groups or participate in protests? Put a sign in your window or on your car? Or maybe go personal and public by making a simple, respectful sign about what’s happening right now that you care about?
Then take your sign and quietly stand for an hour on a public sidewalk near a place that’s relevant to your concern. These are acts of communication that, however local and simple, can move people and change society.
Create and share a common effort; maybe someone you already know will join you. Others who see you will show up if you’re persistent and consistent.
Make a connection
It may make you nervous just thinking about it, but communication begins just by making a connection. It’s like flipping a switch or striking a match. Get someone’s attention and then give them yours.
Start with the easy topics. “What a beautiful day!… Don’t you just love ice cream?… You look great in that color!” Or the old favorite if there’s a canine companion, “Are you a good dog?”
Look for things you have in common. That’s how community starts and mutual commitment grows. Anything that can make someone smile and feel better, even for a moment, is a contribution to a better society.
One day the conversation will move beyond ice cream and dogs and you’ll find more shared interests, opinions, and experiences, as well as some points of difference. If you’re lucky you’ll find yourself understanding more about life and what really matters: kindness, respect, wonder. And you’ll have a cadre of folks you can count on and who can count on you.
In the meantime, “Always Say Hello”. That’s how good things start.
Rosanne Graef and Pamela Shaw are West End residents.