When I was a kid, maybe 9 or 10 years old, there was an old timer in my neighborhood who would wave at everyone he passed on the street. I remember it as if it were yesterday; a powder blue late model Dodge, stock hubcaps, and the driver's window always rolled down. If he was passing a group of us kids he always flashed us the, ever so cool, "peace sign." We would always laugh and we would always wave back. I remember seeing him year after year until I grew to be an adult and finally moved away. One day about the time I turned 15 the peace sign turned to a friendly wave as he passed me on the street.
For some reason I have picked up this habit. Janice and I live in a Vancouver, Wa neighborhood called Felida Knolls. The are 30 or so homes in the neighborhood with an above average number of kids. There is always someone out. Neighbors gardening or washing their car, kids playing on the street... Since we primarily office out of our home, we drive in and out of the neighborhood many times a day. We probably wave at 10 to 12 of our neighbors on any given day! Jokingly, I refer to it as the "Mark Hall World Tour. Making Friends everywhere I go!" Some days, if I come home when our next door neighbors are out, mom, dad, and all three kids, line up to wave. I feel like I am in a parade!
A few days back, the phone rings and it is one of our neighbors who lives around the corner. He wanted to talk to us about listing his home for sale. I asked him how he decided to give us a call and he said, "You guys are the two who wave to everyone in the neighborhood! Everybody knows you."
Photo by Jimw
Mark Hall
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Excellent! You've got the honey vs vinegar thing going! Keep up the good work. It never hurts to be kind.
This would not work in my town......everyone smiles and waves. When you pass another driver most everyone lifts their index finger off the steering wheel. The people that get noticed are the ones who don't wave.........weird people.
Mark, It shows that being nice pays off. I occassionally wear a hand written name tag to remind me to be nice. Here is a blog post why.
Mark, great story. I actually do the peace sign and have for a long time and everybody either laughs and waves back or they give me the peace sign and smile. It's taking the time to care and that's exactly what you've shown by your actions. Thanks for this reminder, as at times when I go home and am tired, a senior saint needs help in her yard for weeding or planting and I have never said no yet I think "don't they know I've had a long day?" and then you come flying in with your words.
Again, thank you!
Excellent advice and an entertaining story. Although I hate the idea of being "on" 24/7 for utilitarian reasons, you make a good point.
interesting blog
i appreciate the information
have a wonderful wednesday!!!
I have taken to the habit of smiling at people. In the store or driving or waiting in line. It makes people smile back and really take notice of you. Funny but true i am known throughout town as the smiley gal...
Hi Mark,
Nice! People really do remember when we wave & smile at them. Have a great week. Michael A. Caruso
Thank you for all of the wonderful feedback. Keeping with the spirit and taking a lead from Jimmy McCall and his post, I have created a new signature that I plan to use for some of my more playful posts. What do you think?
Little random acts of kindness can have big payoffs--keep waving and smiling.
Got to love the power of the wave!
Mark - great marketing, especially today when so many insulate themselves from their neighbors. I try to wave also, and walk the neighborhood (but on hiatus while the temperature is hot and the humidity high here). Keep up the good deeds.
Thank you everyone!
I love it when "feel good" blogs like this get a lot of responses.
Mark,
What a great story! I love it! Being kind and upbeat and outgoing is always a great thing and you never, ever know how far reaching it can be.
Coco