It’s easier for most of us to mind our manners when among friends, family, and co-workers, but what about when we’re out in public, surrounded by strangers? The fact that you will never again encounter most of the people you pass is no excuse to be rude, or even cold and indifferent—plus, you never know when your newest best friend will be the stranger you shared an elevator with last week.
Acknowledge and Smile
We have many opportunities to interact with the people around us. Whether it’s while at the mall, in line at the grocery store, or entering or leaving an office building, most people tend to pull into themselves, studiously avoiding acknowledging strangers. As a result, it’s easy to feel isolated, even in a throng of people.Rather than hoping everyone else changes their attitude, try an experiment. Instead of looking through those you pass as if they aren’t even there, make eye contact and smile. We bet you'll be pleasantly surprised with the response.
