The idea first came to me on a quiet morning run.
As I was moving through my neighborhood, I noticed a man standing at the end of his driveway. I saw him glance in my direction from a distance, and as I got closer, I did what I always do—I lifted my hand to wave and say hello, or at least good morning. Just before our paths crossed, he looked down, almost as if he were timing it so he wouldn’t have to make eye contact or respond. At least, that’s how it felt to me.
I waved anyway.
I remember thinking how strange it is that something so small can feel so big. It wasn’t that I thought poorly of him. If anything, I felt a little silly for caring—but also a little invisible. It made me wonder why saying hello has become something we avoid, when we’re all just people trying to get through whatever life is handing us that day, whether it’s good or bad. I thought to myself, geez… hello doesn’t hurt. If anything, it might help—or at the very least, it wouldn’t make things worse.
About a week later, I was listening to a podcast when I heard a story that stuck with me. It was about a man living in San Francisco who had decided he was going to jump off the Golden Gate Bridge. Afterward, a note was found in his home. It said something like: “I am going to jump off the bridge today unless someone along the way says hi to me or asks how I’m doing.”
That stopped me cold.
I thought back to that run and the driveway, and the idea came rushing back—Hello Doesn’t Hurt. Only now it felt heavier. Maybe hello doesn’t just not hurt… maybe it helps. Maybe it won’t save a life, but maybe it lifts someone a little. Maybe it’s the one moment of recognition someone needed that day.
I started thinking about the elderly, and how their faces light up when you simply acknowledge them. I thought about people experiencing homelessness. I’ve made a point to say hello when I can. Sometimes there’s no response. Sometimes it’s just a nod. Sometimes it’s a smile. But I still believe that being seen—especially when someone is lonely or down and out—can matter more than we realize. Saying hello doesn’t hurt… and maybe, just maybe, it helps.
On my next run, another thought came to me: what if my shirt or hat said Hello Doesn’t Hurt? What if someone saw it and felt a little more comfortable waving, or saying good morning, or simply acknowledging a stranger?
Could it really hurt?
Rich