#worldhelloday

Did you know that today, 21st November, 2017 is the 45th annual World Hello Day?

It was begun in response to the conflict between Egypt and Israel in the Autumn of 1973.  Since then, World Hello Day has been observed by people in 180 countries.

Anyone can participate in World Hello Day simply by greeting ten people.
This demonstrates the importance of personal communication for preserving peace.
People around the world use the occasion of World Hello Day as an opportunity to express their concern for world peace.  Beginning with a simple greeting on World Hello Day, their activities send a message to leaders, encouraging them to use communication rather than force to settle conflicts.

For those of you who have read my book, you'll know that I wrote about the power of a simple hello, here's an excerpt :

Namaste, Shalom, Aloha
Last Friday I was blessed to run another Get a Life workshop.This time it was “Create your vision – manifest your best life!”. It was a beautiful sunny day on Friday, the venue was the tranquil
Welland Enterprise offices, which nestle in the Lincolnshire countryside, certainly a far fling from the hustle and bustle of most daily lives.

Again, as always on my workshops, I was blessed by being surrounded by an amazing group of participants for the day, the energy amongst the group was fantastic. Each one open,caring and sharing with one another on their journey.It was as a result of a discussion during one of the exercises on Friday that I thought about the topic for today’s chapter.

During the session we discussed life as a journey...considering if we were “hurtling along a motorway or meandering along a wooded lane...”

Were we taking the opportunity to savour every juicy moment or were we just rushing to the destination, without enjoying the scenery along the way?
Did we stop and “Gather the rose buds will ye may?”
Did we take the opportunity to connect and re-connect with those who shared the road?

I urge you to consider this:
How many people do you connect with, no matter how briefly throughout your day?
Are you truly present with each? Or are you in a hurry to move on and on along your motorway?
What would happen if you took the opportunity to slow down just enough to really connect or in truth re-connect with those other souls?

I say re-connect because I don’t believe there really is a such a distance between us all, right at the very heart of us we’re not so very different are we?
We may have lots of variations but we’re human beings, trying not to be just human doings!

How do you greet those along your path?
Do you stop long enough to share the gifts you may have for one another?
What nuggets and gems do you miss each day by rushing on past?

You may have seen the greeting/salutation “Namaste” used by myself and others...this simple word captures so much of what I’m talking about here:
NAMASTE – one translation of this ancient Sanskrit word is– “I honour the place in you in which the entire Universe dwells, I honour the place in you which is of Love, of Integrity, of Wisdom and of Peace. When you are in that place in you, and I am in that place in me, we are One.”

Other cultures have similar greetings:
SHALOM – The Hebrew word SHALOM is understood around the world to mean peace. But peace is only one small part of the meaning of the word SHALOM, it also expresses completeness, wholeness, health, welfare, safety ,soundness, tranquillity, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord. So by using this greeting/salutation we are showing the intent of this expression
to the receiver.

ALOHA – Aloha is an Hawaiian greeting, it has an essence of love weaved within it. Aloha is a way of being and of living...its true meaning is better captured here:
Aloha is being a part of all, and all being a part of me. When there is pain – it is my pain. When there is joy – it is also mine. I respect all that is as part of the Creator and part of me. I will not willfully harm anyone or anything. When food is needed I will take only my need and explain why it is being taken. The earth, the sky, the sea are mine to care for, to cherish and to protect – this is Aloha!

When you stop to consider the depth of meaning contained within these greetings. It makes you consider what an amazing gift they bring between two souls. The simple act of greeting another has profound energy and effect.

HELLO may not, on the face of it hold such significant meaning when shared, however the intent of hello is to acknowledge another, that in itself shows care, respect and recognition.

Exercise: Hello!
So today as you walk along your journey, I urge you slow down enough to connect with the other souls walking alongside you, no matter if your greeting is Namaste, Shalom, Aloha or a simple hello, don’t miss the opportunity to connect and share.

It’s the enjoyment of the journey that counts, moment to moment...

So I urge you today to take the opportunity to celebrate #worldhelloday. It's your chance to make a difference by being connected in our shared humanness, instead of the illusion of disconnection that our perceived differences may bring.
For further information visit: http://www.worldhelloday.org

Until next time,
make every moment count.
Lisa xxx

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