Smile at someone when you walk past them and usually you’ll get a smile in return. Say hello, and often you’ll receive a greeting with a smile. We must be in Queensland you say? Yes Queenslanders are often very friendly people and it’s still not uncommon to greet each other in our local streets.
Of course the Brisbane CBD is not a place where you would greet
everyone. It would be too exhausting; a bit like Paul Hogan in
Crocodile Dundee, where he tries to greet every passerby on a New
York sidewalk. Of course, we know that people are friendly all over
the country, especially in our regions, but just sayin’ that in
Queensland we like to think we’re very friendly.
Recently when I was out walking in Sydney, I’d say hello to people. To be honest, I got mixed results. Often I was completely ignored. I tried to fight the negativity, but without a positive response, it was hard to keep going.
“Smile like an optimist,” says Victor Perton, founder of the Centre for Optimism. “Smile at every person you meet and pass today. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Smile at strangers and say good morning.” Researchers have found that even practising smiling can help us to feel happier and more optimistic.
So next time you’re out walking,
smile, say hello, and even the grumpiest person you pass, may not be
able to resist saying hello. But remember not to take it too hard if
you’re ignored, because sometimes people just need some space in
their busy lives.