Everywhere you go…
There are people.
And there you are…
Right in the middle of them.
Everywhere we go, two things become immediately apparent.
There are people everywhere.
And there we are…
Among them.
At the grocery store.
At work.
At church.
In restaurants.
On sidewalks.
In elevators.
At airports.
At family gatherings.
Life is filled with people.
Yet despite being surrounded by one another, many interactions never really happen.
People pass.
People glance.
People avoid.
People retreat.
And opportunities for simple human connection are lost.
WHAT DO YOU FIND HARD TO DO?
Years ago, I asked someone what they considered their greatest challenge in life.
Without hesitation they answered:
“Navigating different personalities.”
At the time I thought very little about it.
But as life moved forward, those words stayed with me.
The more people I met, the more I realized there was wisdom hidden inside that answer.
People are wonderfully unique.
Different backgrounds.
Different beliefs.
Different experiences.
Different fears.
Different strengths.
Different needs.
Learning how to navigate all of that gracefully is truly a life skill.
I ABSOLUTELY DISLIKE THE FOLLOWING.
Have you ever walked into a room and been completely ignored?
Have you ever stood beside someone while another person carried on a conversation as though you weren’t there?
Have you ever entered a business, restaurant, or gathering and felt invisible?
Most of us have.
And most of us didn’t enjoy it.
Why?
Because every human being desires acknowledgment.
Not worship.
Not attention.
Acknowledgment.
To be seen.
To be recognized.
To be valued.
To know that our presence matters.
I AM UP HERE…UP HERE.
One thing I have noticed throughout the years is how many people walk through life staring at the ground.
Head down.
Eyes lowered.
Disconnected.
Withdrawn.
Perhaps they are worried.
Perhaps distracted.
Perhaps simply lost in thought.
But when we withdraw from the world, the world often withdraws from us.
Connection requires participation.
TOOLS FOR THE PEOPLE TRADE.
The good news is that meaningful interaction doesn’t require extraordinary effort.
Sometimes the smallest gestures make the biggest difference.
Consider these simple tools:
- Eye Contact
A brief moment of eye contact says:
“I see you.”
No words required.
- A Gesture
A thumbs up.
A wave.
A prayer hand.
A simple acknowledgment.
- A Nod
One of the oldest forms of recognition known to mankind.
A nod says:
“We’re both here.”
- A Smile
Smiles travel farther than words.
And often arrive faster.
- A Greeting
Good morning.
Good afternoon.
Hello.
How are you?
Simple.
Powerful.
Human.
- A Comment
Beautiful day.
Nice hat.
Long line today.
Sometimes a conversation begins with the smallest observation.
- A Respectful Glance
Not every interaction requires conversation.
Sometimes simply acknowledging another person’s existence is enough.
VALIDATION OF A HUMAN BEING IS TIMELESS.
As I wrote in Pearls for the Soul:
“People may forget your words, but they rarely forget how you made them feel.”
— Richie Naggar, Pearls for the Soul
When you acknowledge another person, something remarkable happens.
You practice honesty.
First with yourself.
Then with them.
You recognize reality.
A human being stands before you.
A life.
A story.
A journey.
A fellow traveler.
The more you practice this, the more natural it becomes.
And something else happens.
Good things begin coming out of you.
Kindness.
Patience.
Understanding.
Compassion.
Connection.
The world becomes a little warmer.
A little friendlier.
A little more human.
THE GREATEST PEOPLE NAVIGATORS UNDERSTAND ONE THING.
Every person you meet is carrying something.
A burden.
A dream.
A hope.
A struggle.
A victory.
You may never know what it is.
But your acknowledgment may be exactly what they needed that day.
A smile.
A nod.
A greeting.
A moment of recognition.
Sometimes that is enough.
People are everywhere.
And there you are.
The question is:
Will you simply pass through their lives…
Or will you acknowledge them while you do?
— Richie
Pearls for the Soul
when you feed the soul, you feed everything.
https://pearlsforthesoul.com
Been expecting you