What’s as simple as a wave?
It’s a welcoming. An acknowledging.
Maybe even a call for help.
This story of a wave left an impact on me.
A boy and his wave
It’s the story of a 4-year old boy whose father left the house after a separation.
But the boy didn’t quit and hunker down inside his house. He didn’t swear off the world and stuff his need to feel love from those around him.
He went outside and started waving to his neighbors until someone waved back at him.
Then someone did…
And another…
Until all the seniors in his neighborhood started showing up to his ball games and birthday party.
Life skills
Sales gurus talk about this being the relationship that keeps you selling. About meeting your needs through meeting the needs of enough other people.
You could say this little boy is selling belonging to elderly neighbors as they give belonging back to him.
But what if building a long-standing relationship that two people give in to is inherent in our survival?
Because that need for acknowledgement is universal.
Not going away
And it’s lifelong. Even if you try to quit and stuff it down.
I grew up with that feeling when my dad was out at sea for 6 months at a time and I only saw him twice a year for his 2 weeks of leave.
When I was shut in a dimly lit closet at daycare away from everyone because I didn’t know how to ask for the attention I needed while mom was at work.
To be told throughout elementary school that I needed weekly therapy and psychiatric drugs to act “normal” enough for people to accept me.
A whole straitjacket of standards that promised acceptance if I just stayed quiet in my lane.
But the bar was never really that high.
Simpler than it seems
A lot of that expectation went away when I finally started making friends.
And making friends starts with something as simple as a wave.
So when I walk around at work or my neighborhood, I wave at people.
I needed that reminder today.
I hope this kid never stops waving, either.
Controlling what you can goes a long way. Keep waving and subscribe for more stories on the little things you can do.
How are we all connected? Explore more in these related posts:
Liberty Begins At Home 
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