A stranger sneezes.
Someone says, “Bless you.”
The sneezer replies, “Thank you.”
Everyone moves on.
But have you ever wondered why?
The other day I was attending a meeting with several people I didn’t know.
Everything was moving along normally.
People were talking.
Listening.
Sharing.
Then suddenly…
ACHOO!
The dreaded sneeze arrived.
Immediately, almost on cue, several people responded.
“Bless you.”
“God bless you.”
“Gesundheit.”
The sneezer smiled and replied:
“Thank you.”
Then the meeting continued as if nothing had happened.
I found myself fascinated by the entire exchange.
It seemed almost rehearsed.
Nobody planned it.
Nobody discussed it.
Yet everybody knew exactly what to do.
WHY IS THAT?
SNEEZIN’ ISN’T PLEASIN’.
Let’s start with the obvious question.
Why do people sneeze?
In simple terms, the body is attempting to remove irritants from the nasal passages.
Dust.
Pollen.
Pepper.
Allergens.
Other unwanted visitors.
The body detects a problem and responds instantly.
No committee meeting.
No discussion.
No permission slip.
Just action.
The human body is absolutely remarkable.
We take breathing, blinking, healing, and sneezing for granted because they happen automatically.
Yet every one of them is a small miracle happening right under our noses.
Sometimes literally.
SO WHY DO WE SAY “BLESS YOU”?
The answer depends on who you ask.
Throughout history there have been many explanations.
Some believed that during a sneeze the heart briefly stopped.
Others believed evil spirits could enter the body.
Still others believed the soul might escape during the violent burst of air.
Whether true or not, people responded with a blessing as a gesture of protection and goodwill.
Over time, the tradition stuck.
Generations passed it along.
Today, most people say it without even thinking.
Not because they understand its origin.
Because it has become part of being human.
As I wrote in Pearls for the Soul:
“Sometimes the smallest acts of kindness survive the longest.”
— Richie Naggar, Pearls for the Soul
AHHHH…
CHOOOOOO!
Now let’s talk about sneezes themselves.
Not all sneezes are created equal.
Some are tiny.
Some are mighty.
Some sound like a bird chirping.
Others sound like a freight train colliding with a thunderstorm.
Some people sneeze once.
Others seem determined to set a personal record.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
Five.
And occasionally a champion emerges.
I once managed thirteen sneezes in a row.
Thirteen.
Delivered with great style and professional commitment.
Boasting intended.
IF SNEEZES COULD TALK…
WHAT WOULD THEY SAY?
Every sneeze seems to have its own personality.
Some are shy.
Some are dramatic.
Some demand attention.
Some apologize for existing.
I have even experimented by adding sounds to the end of my sneezes.
Only at home, of course.
Never in public.
My wife was not always convinced this was a worthwhile scientific experiment.
But laughter was achieved.
THE PART NOBODY WANTS TO DISCUSS.
Now we come to the less glamorous side of sneezing.
The mess.
The spray.
The unfortunate distribution system.
Many people sneeze directly into their hands.
This creates a problem.
Because those same hands immediately return to touching everything else.
Door handles.
Tables.
Chairs.
Other unsuspecting objects.
A better option is covering with a tissue.
And when no tissue is available…
The elbow or shoulder becomes your best friend.
Contain the sneeze.
Protect the crowd.
Preserve civilization.
Simple enough.
THE REAL BLESSING.
Perhaps the most interesting thing isn’t the sneeze at all.
Perhaps it is the response.
A complete stranger sneezes.
Someone acknowledges them.
Someone wishes them well.
Someone extends a tiny act of kindness.
For a brief moment, people connect.
Not because they know each other.
Not because they must.
But because being human sometimes brings out the best in us.
A sneeze interrupts the day.
A blessing restores it.
And maybe that is why the tradition survives.
Not because of superstition.
Not because of history.
But because people still like wishing good things for one another.
And in a world that could always use a little more kindness…
That’s nothing to sneeze at.
GOD BLESS YOU.
— Richie
Pearls for the Soul
when you feed the soul, you feed everything.
https://pearlsforthesoul.com
Been expecting you