Lately, I’ve been thinking about greetings.
We, as adults, tend to be so boring and “cool” when we run into people. “Hey, how’s it going?” we say with a subdued smile. Then, we say non-definite statements like, “let’s get together sometime…“
But small children do things differently. They don’t contain their excitement when they see their favorite people. They smile. They beam. They stop everything that they are doing to run to the door, to tell you all about everything you’ve missed. Then, they will take your hand and guide you to their room or the backyard or the kitchen table to play right then and there.
And that kind of greeting warms my heart every time, makes me feel so incredibly…Important. And loved.
I know it’s a little bit different for adults, seeing that we have Responsibilities and Calendars and Appointments. We can’t just drop everything in favor of play all of the time.
That said, I definitely want to be more cognizant of the way I make people FEEL when I meet/greet them. I want the people that I interact with to walk away feeling…Important. And loved.
I think I’ll begin by taking cues from my kids.
Very nice post, Stephanie. This is so true. I love how uninhibited children are in their excitement over the people who mean so much to them.
That picture says it all! I agree…I think the way my son greets his daddy when he comes home is fantastic. Or when he sees his little friends their squeals of excitement just melt my heart.
you have such good insight sometimes! (okay a lot of the times!)
Very, very true and it’s something I’m working on doing more with my husband each day.
I was dropping my kindergartner off at school the other day. i walked in holding her hand, and immediately this other little one who I had never seen came running up to her and hugged her. They stood there, in the door of the elementary school, holding each other like it was their first dance at a middle school dance. As they did, older kids walked by them–and the older kids took notice, and just kept oooohing and ahhhing. It was so innocent and sweet. Ohhhh, to be young…. Thanks for the post,
kristen
I’ll always remember a speaker who asked the question, are you the type of person who walks into the room and waits to be greeted or the one who walks right up to one person to greet yourself? It seems like a simple way to make others feel more important than yourself. I need to do that more!
I love how my son kisses me (for a prolonged period of time) in the morning when he comes and snuggles in bed with us. 12 hours is a long time to not see mom.
I recommend reading the book “How to Win Friends and Influence People”, I know it sounds cheesy but they have helped me at work and almost everywhere I go. I believe the author is Dale Carnegie, a very brilliant man by the way.
Why do you think one of man’s best animal, because dogs are always happy to see you, come rain, come shine. Same goes for kids, they are always happy to see you. So maybe if we change our attitude and show more interest in people, we would become like kids, likeable.
I agree. When friends come over, I say hi and ask how they are (and I really do mean it, but I obviously should work on better greetings…), but my girls run and greet them and pull them into their room and playroom to see the big girl bed and the toys and to start playing. I jokingly yell back there that they’re stealing my friends, but I guess I can see that my friends would rather be stolen by someone who can’t wait to see them and play with them than someone who is distracted, busy, and making dinner.
I agree with you. It is so nice to be greeted with genuine joy! Both of my kids are so good at this. With a simple smile and a boisterous hello, they can light up a whole day!
This makes me think of my Mom. She and her Mom never make anyone feel really warm and welcome when they greet them. They aren’t cruel people, but they are very unenthusiastic. And as I age I catch myself growing more into them, then into the person I want to be. I make a very conscience effort to make people feel my excitement and love for them when I greet them. A smile, a hug… joy.
Nell
I have to agree with you, children are so full of joy and excitement. It’s a wonder.
Awww I love this post!
Ah yes…so true!
I get very excited to see my fiends too but find it hard to concentrate on them and our conversation with so much activity with the kids going on around us. I take the little bits that come and hope that the little bits that go, warm a heart or lift some spirits.
:)
I love that you post about the simple, every day things we always overlook. Very good post! thanks for the reminder.
P.S. That little girl of yours? so darling!!
This is a very insightful post. It makes me think… Thanks!
Great post! Very thought provoking and it definitely challenges me! Thank you for the spark!
You are so right! I think this afternoon when my husband comes home, I will greet him with a whole lot of love and excitement, just like the kids do. Thanks for this!
good point!