I grew up in a pretty small, simple, blue-collar neighborhood. We lived about ten miles outside of Cleveland in a suburb called Garfield Heights. It was a pretty ideal neighborhood. There were six families on our block (amongst all the other homes), all with some kids close in age to the kids my family (all six of us): the Malenich’s, the Svab’s, the Crespo’s, the Osborne’s, the Shimko’s, and us, the Santovin’s. We all knew each other and we all liked each other (for the most part). There were old people and young people, friendly parents and not so friendly parents. We could walk to most every store we needed: the local grocery store, a donut shop where we would hang out and play video games, the hardware store (to fix our bikes and make crazy kid contraptions), and gas stations. By the time I was 8, I knew most everyone within walking distance of my home.
I remember when I got a bike and my whole world expanded. I got a paper route and I covered about five to six streets total. Five streets I had never been on before. In the process of going door-to-door delivering papers, and collecting money, I had a chance to meet even more people. Another perk to a bike was that I could ride to my friend’s homes that I knew from school. When the school by my house was closed in Third Grade I was bused to a new school. I met more kids my age that didn’t live five to ten blocks away. I was now eager to get out on my bike and hang out with my new friends. This process kept on going: new school equals new friends, equals more places to go and farther to go!
My community was growing. Community and neighbors were such a huge part of my life. I have to say it shaped a lot of who I am today. So what does this have to do with saying hello and happiness?
It all started in April or May of this year. I had moved back to Oceanside, CA from Mesa Arizona where I was a TrailWalker on the Anasazi Trail. On the Anasazi trail, we sometimes walked 8-10 miles a week, 12-15 miles a week, or sometimes over 20. We walked up hills and down into valleys just to do it all over again. We walked in creek beads and climbed up and over rocks. The trail was hard but became easier after the weeks and months that became a year and walking was part of my life.
So I am back here in Oceanside and guess what? I miss walking. So I set out on a journey to start walking. I live about 1.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean and can easily walk there from my home. I started out very early (5:00 am) in the morning because of my work schedule. As I walked every day, the landscape became more and more familiar to me and I started recognizing the people that would be out at the same time. The more I walked, the more I noticed that these people started saying ‘hi’ as I walked. It was then that a thought came to me: “Here are all these people, we all live right here, we don’t ‘know’ each other but we are all a part of this community—yet I know none of them.” I determined right then and there to become a part of my community.
And it all starts with “Hello” and a smile.
I would have to think that there are some solid health and emotional benefits to saying hello and having community. First off, when I say hello I can’t help but smile! If you don’t know me you can almost bet that 90% of the time I have a smile on my face. That other 10% is because I’m either eating or I am sad…well, wait. I’m pretty sure I smile when I eat!
Studies have shown the following:
1. Smiling Changes Our Mood – Next time you are feeling down, try putting on a smile. There’s a good chance you mood will change for the better. Smiling can trick the body into helping you change your mood.
2. Smiling Is Contagious – When someone is smiling they lighten up the room, change the moods of others, and make things happier. A smiling person brings happiness with them. Smile lots and you will draw people to you.
3. Smiling Relieves Stress – Stress can really show up in our faces. Smiling helps to prevent us from looking tired, worn down, and overwhelmed. When you are stressed, take time to put on a smile. The stress should be reduced and you’ll be better able to take action.
4. Smiling Boosts Your Immune System – Smiling helps the immune system to work better. When you smile, immune function possibly improves because you are more relaxed. Prevent the flu and colds by smiling (also, don’t forget to wash your hands). :)
5. Smiling Lowers Your Blood Pressure – When you smile, there is a measurable reduction in your blood pressure. Give it a try if you have a blood pressure monitor at home. Sit for a few minutes. Take a reading. Then smile for a minute and take another reading while still smiling. Do you notice a difference?
6. Smiling Releases Endorphins, Natural Pain Killers and Serotonin – Studies have shown that smiling releases endorphins, natural painkillers, and serotonin. Together these three make us feel good. Smiling is a natural drug.
And about community it has been said that “Well functioning communities are vital to maintaining a good and progressive society. If we did not form communities, we would have to deal with all our issues on our own. Where would we be without each other?
Becoming part of a community is like joining a team. Without communities, we would all be living isolated lives with little or no contact with those outside our immediate circle.”
So, my challenge to you is this: as you go about your day whether it be shopping, your kids sports, your sports, the gym, church, school, or wherever you may be try to go to the same places (especially stores, banks, and restaurants). Say hello to people that you see or interact with. As you start to make a habit of going to the same places and seeing the same people you will become familiar with each other. No one says we have to become best friends with these people, but to me it just makes the world, or at least my community, a safer, friendly, better place where I want to live, raise a family, and run my day to day affairs.
Say hello, smile, meet someone new and build your community. We will all be better off for it!
