While walking across the parking lot at the grocery I noticed a man walking out. Here’s where it got a little weird. Most of the time I try to be invisible when out in public just running errands but I heard a request to just say hello to this man. That’s right I heard it, I even found myself questioning, “What?” This man appeared to be making an equal attempt at being invisible and as our steps grew nearer the time for weighing consequences as growing short. Saying hello seemed odd so I improvised and said, “Hey.” When be looked up, I continued, “How are you doing?” He responded, “I am blessed brother, it’s great for us to be here!”

I know for some of you, that is just a regular occurrence but some of you non-peopley people have been there.

Being friendly has sadly become a rare thing these days. I try to acknowledge people when I'm out and about.
It doesn't take much to nod and say "Hello" to a stranger. Just might make their day.
My Pastor says, "To make a friend, you have to be a friend."

Guess you must have been in the midwest for a moment there instead of the east coast.

If you actually live on the east coast you'll find out that's not entirely true. People are people, good and bad everywhere. I have people hold the door for you, nod and acknowledge you , and sometimes say hello.
Even city people can be nice, lot depends on how you act and carry yourself...

That said, it pays to pay attention to people wherever you live, nut cases can be anywhere

I'm from New Jersey, home of the ignorant sphincter.
It's rare, but every now and then, I'm caught off guard by someone with a kind word or acknowledgement.
I guess there is still hope left for humanity.

Wow that is terrible to live around people like that everybody speaks and waves in rural Illinois where we live just our nature I guess.. Jon

Then there's the south... where complete strangers stop you to tell you their life stories lol.

True Angela. How true.
KZoo, your pastor's correct. To make a friend you have to be a friend and to be loved you first have to "love others."
The kicker is, the meaning and perception of what love is has been so badly twisted in our culture and hijacked by all incessant hyper-sexualized themes all around us, all day, every day, that we forget that being what people refer to as being "nice" is truly a form of love... a genuine gesture of good will from one human to another with no expectation in return.

The most popular opinion in the land is "I do to others what they do to me," and so it goes.
God tries to lay out the better path, but we prefer to do it our own way.... and call that "good."

I'm simply glad God doesn't' give His good gifts like we give ours.

Blessings,
Mark

It makes me feel good to smile and say hello to folks, and when others do the same. Fortunately its pretty common around here, and even in big towns like Des Moines. Little moments of sanity in an insane world.

Probably one of the reasons you moved south.

What you all are describing happens regularly here too, among “regular” folks. I avoided a detailed description of the man but I guess it was a key piece I should have included.

I will say that if you are being a friend to everyone including those that would make you put your hand a little closer to your side arm, you are closer than me and I am envious.

Everybody have a great day and thank you for showing me I need to do better.

We're all meant to be regular folks HT and all of us started out that way at least.
Have a blessed day brother!
All of us need to do better . . Me for sure.

I like to walk around with a smile, take notice how many people smile back , quite a few.

I say hi to almost everyone. It may not be a verbal hi. Sometimes it's just a head nod as I walk past them in Walmart.

My wife says hi to everyone, then stops and talks random stuff to them. She could be going into a Sheetz or something like that for a coffee. Usually a 3 minute stop for normal folk. She'll be in there 20 minutes talking to someone.

Ohhh I'm big on holding doors.

Some days on a trip to Town being Incognito is the Goal.

I spent quite a few weeks for work in Poland and it was amazing to see the difference in the generations. Older people who lived in or were raised in socialism walked with their eyes at the ground, projecting that "leave me alone" image. Younger people who were raised after socialism fell, walked around looking around and would make eye contact with other people.