Years ago, on 60 Minutes, 20/20, or a similar TV show, I saw a report about a man who stood at the same intersection every morning and waved and smiled enthusiastically to everyone who passed by. When you watched the video, you couldn’t help but smile and wave as well. Years have passed, more like a few decades, but about a year ago, I thought about the man I called The Wave Man as I was walking to get steps on my iPhone. I wondered what happened to him. I hope he had a good life. I hope someone waved to him once or twice. There is something sad about saying, “Good Morning,” and no one says Good Morning back.
I have gotten into the habit of waving to people as they pass me on my morning walks, and under my breath, I always say, “Good Morning, it’s going to be a great day.” I smile because when I can see their faces, they are usually smiling back. Check out this link to Getty Images, and you will see over 46,000 pictures of men waving, and my Goodness, they are all smiling too. I thought that I might be unusual, but I’m not. You can carry it one step further and give someone a morning boost. Send your friends a text, and say something like, “Good Morning, it’s going to be a great day,” or “Get up and get going. God made this day just for you.”
The world would be a lot better place if people waved and said, “Good morning.” It makes me feel like I’m not alone in a world where rushing and ignoring each other is par for the course, and it is not the way to start the day in a world God created for you and me to enjoy.
Until next time
Duane
If your "Wave Man" was on Pacific Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, CA, in the '70s & '80s, he was known as "The Greeter." He was there every day, waving to passing cars with a big smile on his bearded face under long, gray locks. I used drive past him on our surfin' safaris in my old '59 Chevy station wagon filled with surfing buddies inside & surfboards strapped to the roof racks. He always put a smile on our faces as we waved back to him! I think there may be a statue of him at the same location, but it's been a long time since I passed that way on PCH in Laguna.