Jackson is a nonstop waver. He has no discrimination. He waves at dogs being pulled on their leashes, older ladies buying groceries, random people crossing streets, and pictures of anything with a face. It is incredibly endearing and sweet to watch. It's not a wave like you are accustomed to envisioning...it's a crumpling of the fingers towards his palm with a repetitive motion, and when paired with "hi," it melts your heart.
Jack and I have a routine in he afternoon, as he leaves daycare. We wait for daddy on a bench that sits directly in front of a door of the JFK building. At 5:00, people begin to emerge, some exhausted from the day, some laughing with a friend, some on their phones, some texting, and some completely oblivious to anything not in their own head. One by one, Jackson gives each person, regardless of what they are doing, a great big wave and an enormous smile. As soon as the door opens, he starts the wave before even sets eyes on the person. Most of the time, his efforts are reciprocated with a huge smile and a comment, or they are at least acknowledged. But sometimes, people don't see Jackson waving wildly at them. It's at this moment that I notice, he doesn't break his stride. He continues to say hello and wave regardless of if he's noticed or not. It seems to make him feel good, as if saying hello brings him joy more than it does to other people.
The lesson I learned today: Smiling and saying hello takes little energy, but we are often too busy, too oblivious, or too self centered to care when we pass people in our daily lives. How many times did I say hello to people I encountered today and how many times did I just glance at the floor and avoid eye contact? Maybe it really could make you feel better, even if your gesture it's not acknowledged or reciprocated, to just wave and joyfully say hello to everyone who crosses your path . . . it's worth a try. It seems to work nicely for Jackson.
