"A warm smile is the universal language of kindness."
― William Arthur Ward
There seems to be a number of theories on what is behind Southern Hospitality -- everything ranging from that it covers up less appealing aspects of the South to that it is rooted in the Biblical notion of the Good Samaritan. Whatever its origin and reason for being, I definitely have felt it as I travel in that part of the country.
I have been visiting Charleston, one of my favorite U.S. cities, and I continue to marvel at how I am more often than not met with smiles and greetings from strangers. Yesterday morning as I was getting ready to cross the street on foot, a woman in her car was blocking the crosswalk. Before I stepped off the curb, she backed up the car, so that I could more easily cross. I was very touched by her thoughtfulness, so I gave her a big wave and a smile, and she returned both. Her simple kindness impacted me and probably brightened both of our days.
As I thought about that short exchange between strangers, it occurred to me that many things had been communicated between us -- all without words. The driver had conveyed that she had seen me and that she was eager to make my life a little easier. I communicated my appreciation. And with our smiles and waves, we agreed that it was a pleasant connection and even seemed to wish each other a nice day. It reminded me of my friend's guiding principle: "When in doubt, reach out."
How amazing it is that even without words, we can connect with each other and share a little kindness.
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