This I believe

I believe in the power of hello. Saying hello when someone walks in the room is a powerful thing. It may just seem like an irrelevant gesture of politeness, but saying hello can change your entire relationship with someone. I remember when I was little, me and my brothers and sisters would run outside to welcome my dad home from work. We were so excited to see him every night when he came home. Just the other day however, I caught myself doing the exact opposite. I was on the computer when my dad came home and I didn't even recognize his presence. He had to come over to me and put his face in front of the screen, to even get a response from me, and it wasn't a positive one to say the least. I am ashamed that I could be so ignorant as to not even acknowledge someone's presence, especially someone as important as my own father. When people say hello to me, whether it be friends or family or even teachers, it makes me feel important. The friendly "Hi Rachel, How are you?" lifts my spirits just a little bit. I feel more involved and a little more cared about. A family friend moved in with me and my family this year to attend a graduate program and her example has been inspiring. She comes home after a nine hour school day and finds where everyone is in the house and says hello to them personally. It's not a big deal, but it always makes me a little bit happier that someone went out of their way to say hello. I believe that saying hello to people makes me a better person as well. I become more aware of those around me instead of only thinking of myself. Saying hello is such a simple gesture, but it changes the mood of the room. It is such a small action that requires almost nothing, yet it has a wonderful affect on everyone. Today when my dad comes home, I am going to stop what I am doing and run out to his truck and say hello, not because it will change his life, but because it will make him smile. And if by saying hello I can spread a smile across someone's face or lift someone's spirit, then that's the greatest power in the world.