I was listening to the radio this week and I heard a lovely story about a city in Ontario.
In this city, there was a campaign underway to "just say hi" to people on the street.People had T-shirts made up and flyers created.This was a way to increase good neighbourly relations within this particular city.When researching this column, I attempted to find more information about this campaign and I discovered it was a part of a larger "just say hello" campaign that some celebrity doctors (thanks,
Dr. Sanjay Gupta) have started as a method to combat loneliness.
The idea behind it is this: you acknowledge and say "hello" to the people you meet in your day-to-day life. Maybe you strike up a conversation and meet someone new.Maybe you will end up making someone's day a little bit better.
I think we should do this in Prince George.We, as a community, need to make more of an effort to meet our neighbours and be kinder to one another (case in point: losing the Swap Shed because of fighting between grown-ups who should know better).
Growing up in Prince George, I lived at the end of a quiet street in a small neighbourhood.I knew the names of everyone who lived in the houses surrounding us and the names of all of the dogs halfway up the street.All of the kids knew which houses gave the best Halloween candy and which houses were safe if there was a problem (there never was a problem).
We would visit with the elderly neighbours and show them the pictures we drew.We were a community.
Now when I drive up my parent's street during the school drop time, I am shocked at the sheer number of cars.
Hardly anyone ever walks to school.
No one knows their neighbours and everyone is a stranger and a potential danger.
Is the world actually more dangerous now versus 30 years ago?Are my children more at risk than I was?
I am not suggesting that people should not be vigilant with the safety of their children, because stories about bad things happening to any child will keep me up at night.
I am suggesting that maybe, if we knew each other in our own neighbourhoods, that the community will be able to help keep our children (and each other) a little safer.
There are some inclusive neighbourhoods in Prince George; neighbourhoods where you smile and wave and maybe invite each other over for a barbecue.
There are other neighbourhoods where if someone says, "Nice weather we're having," our first inclination is that the person is selling something or wants to give you religion.We can afford to be a little less suspicious of each other and take the time to say "hello."
Maybe that person will pass it along, too.
