The Power of Being Friendly

When I go to the grocery store or walk to work, I always have my headphones in. When I forget them, I feel a bit disappointed, knowing that I have to interact with the world around me and cannot be completely enveloped by my music. But interacting with the world and its people is where the magic happens.

When we extend our hand, we open ourselves up to endless possibilities. Each and every person has a unique story to share, and when you are bold enough to say a simple “hello” you open yourself up to the extraordinary honor of hearing the ins and outs of another person’s life, further enriching your own. 

Being friendly lets another person know that kindness is in action, and that it’s standing right in front of them. One thing that is universal is hardship, and we all have the power to alleviate the pain another may be feeling. One may feel defeated, having been yelled at during work, or their heart’s just been broken, or they’ve failed a test. Giving them a smile, or asking them how they are, could end up being the difference between crying themselves to sleep or feeling the slightest bit more hopeful for tomorrow.

It’s easy to keep your head down, or only focus on the task in front of you, but those who are bold enough to offer their kindness hold the capacity to change someone’s life. When I was 15 years old, I was waiting for a ride at the end of a long school day, tired and lonely, just wanting to get home. I was approached by a senior who started a conversation, and asked if she could wait with me while my ride was on its way. She showed genuine interest and kindness to a near perfect stranger. She made me feel important and not alone. This spontaneous act of kindness was the start to an everlasting friendship, one that has pulled me out of my darkest moments and revealed the kind hearted people that do exist. 

You don’t need to do anything loud or showy to be kind, you can simply come as you are and allow your presence to fill the voids that may exist in others. Each of us have different talents and skills, but one of the most important ways we can leave our mark is by leading our lives exercising the easiest, but not most frequently used, tool: being nice. 

This time of year when walking on campus, I pass strangers who are seemingly consumed by stress and the need to get to their next obligation. I think it’s easy to underestimate the possible effects we can have on another person. Can saying “hello” to a complete stranger really make a difference in their day? Yes. It definitely can. My smile has continuously been the product of simple, but effective, friendliness. It lets us know that we are seen and important enough to be thought of. Kindness is contagious, and it spreads from the most intimate interactions to the furthest existing recipients. 

There is no doubt that life is hard and people can be cold, hard and unkind. When each of us wakes up in the morning, we can choose to adapt to a cruel world, or be better than it – and change it. The wisest way to fight an unfeeling world is to be entirely unlike it, to respond with warmth and our best foot forward.