Every Interaction Matters

EVERY INTERACTION MATTERS
At the reacent GAFE summit I attended, one of the most inspitring talks I heard was with regard to interactions and how every intereaction we have with each other, even people we don't know matters. I think the speaker was Martin, from Australia who got up and told us the story about when he runs, he acknowledges each person he crosses paths with.  This ineraction can be as simple as a nod of the head or a thumbs up.  He talked about a run he was on one day in Melbourne.  As he ran along his usual route beside the river, he passed an old man with a demeanour that appeared somewhat bleak.  Martin ( I think that  was his name) acknowledged this old man, just the same as he did with every other human he encountered along the way.  This old man grunted, but certainly didn't appear to engage with the runner.  Martin continued on his run and on the way back passed the old man again.  As he approached him with a few metres between them, they were about to "meet " for the secoud time.  Martin wondered if it was appropriate to attempt to engage a second time ( especially since his first encounter had been far from warm) and with that, the old man changed his whole demeanour and stood up and his face lit up and the two men, had a far more pleasant encounter than the first time.  To be fair, some of the facts in this recount may not be enitrely accurate, but the point is that the first encounter mattered and it changed something about the old man,  It changed from a sad and withdrawn encounter initially, to a happier and more engaging exchange the second time. It poses the question what would have changed in the old man's demeanour if Martin had ignored him the first time he ran past him?  Would the old man still have been looking sad and unengaged?  I believe that the answer is yes.  I believe that the encounter and the mere acknowledgement towards that man that day counted and possisbly was a turning point in his day,
It got me thinking about the interactions I have on a daily basis with the children I teach and the staff I work with, the other children in the school, the people who serve me in shops each time I do my shopping, the person I pass on the street when I am out walking and most importantly - my own family at home.  I consider myself to be pretty friendly and I try to talk to most people I enocunter in the day but I have never really stopped to consider the importance of a quick hello or taking the time to hear what someone has to say.  Ater all it doesn't cost any money and it doesn't hurt me and more often that  not, it doesn't even take me any time.  I am going to pledge to continue to be friendly and to interact with as many people as I can as I go about my day.  I am glad that this talk has caused me to stop to think about the impact these simple interactions can have.  I hope I can bring a little brightness to someone's ( who may just need it) day.