hi for health
A little story for you today ...
I was in a grumpy mood. The plans I thought were going to happen had evaporated in a sea of miscommunication and full calendars. All I wanted was head out for a monster hike. I was pumped for where we’d go and what we’d do. But nope. Not that day.
I had two choices. I could stay home, do house chores and sulk. Or, head out on my own and hike a trail closer to home. It’s probably not a stretch to know what I chose. I put my shoes on and walked out the door.
I started forward on the path ... Most of the leaves had now fallen creating a colourful, crunchy carpet for me to walk through. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. With each step, I could feel my grumpiness easing. It was just me and the trail. As I moved forward I began to smile and my pace quickened.
As I approached the turn to head back I came across a group of about twenty people. Overwhelmed by all the chatter, I fought the urge to give a quick wave and keep walking but something in me said ... pause. I smiled and said Hi. They were all friendly and told me they were part of a hiking group that meets every week at different locations in the region. Some had been hiking together for a few years now.
I fell into step with two women who seemed to know each other. We chatted about hiking and how they got started. They both shared that hiking had kept them sane during pandemic-land and that this is now what they do every Saturday morning regardless of the weather. Rain, shine, snow or bugs they are out.
As we neared the road where our cars were parked the trail grew busier. A younger couple approached and, as I usually do, I said "Hi" and stepped to the side to let them pass. They seemed surprised by my greeting, stuttered an awkward "Hello" and kept walking. Shortly after, a group of older ladies walked towards us and I said "Hi" to them. Their "Hi" back was very enthusiastic and it made me smile.
After the older ladies had passed, one of the women I’d been walking with commented that in her language, Farsi, they have a saying that roughly translates to “Hi means Health”. She shared that when you say Hi to someone you are not only wishing them good health but that it can also increase your well-being.
How simple is that? Say "Hi".
When the hike ended and I was on my home (in a much sunnier mood might I add) I thought about how simple it is to say "Hi" and make eye contact with someone. And, sadly, how it's not a given that you will get a greeting in return.
Wouldn't we all be in a better place if we just said "Hi" to the people we pass? I marvel that such a simple greeting can create connection in our increasingly disconnected world.
My challenge to you is to say "Hi" when maybe you might not want to. How does it feel? How did the other person react? I'd love to know.