Remember when

    Remember when eye contact was the norm? Expected, even. I remember a time where if you didn’t look someone in the eye you were considered rude. And I’m not necessarily talking about dancing- I’m talking about walking! Gone are the days you walk with your head up, acknowledging the person passing you with a smile. Who do I need to talk to to bring those back?
     Nowadays, people passing on the sidewalk not only don’t look me in the eye - they go as far as to put their head down – as if they’re afraid I might commit the heinous, unforgivable act of smiling. What’s so wrong with saying “hello” people?! Why do we act like this other human being isn’t there? How much happier would we be if we went around smiling and greeting our fellow men (and women)?
     And don’t say you’re “not in the mood” or you’re “having a bad day”. Who cares! Suck it up and be civil. Worse case scenario: the person passing asks you for something. Oh No! Anything but that! Maybe it’s just for “the time”. Or maybe it’s to help with their broken down car. Or maybe it’s for money. You can always say “no”. But it seems to me, the very least we can do is look them in the eye.
    What’s the best that can happen? (I'm glad you asked). We'd all have better posture from not hanging our heads, we'd feel better because we’ve been smiling, and we'd quite possibly improve a stranger’s day. So, try it tomorrow and the day after, and the day after... until it’s feels like the good ol’ days. I’ll see you on the hardwood…and yes, I will be looking!;)