DO THE WAVE!
by Patrick Henderson
Ever wonder what you could do to get to know your neighbors better? Like to know an easy method to develop a sense of friendliness in the community? Want a way to scare off the burglars? Here it is: simply wave.
The fact is we communicate non-verbally whether we want to or not. Politely waving to neighbors, passing cars, children, and yes, even strangers, sends several non-verbal messages. To a neighbor it says, “Hi. I’d like to get to know you better. I am approachable. I am friendly.” To strangers it says, “I see you. I am watching. This is a friendly neighborhood.” To a passing car it says, “I see your car and I see you. I may notice your license plate number. This is a nice neighborhood where people know each other and are suspicious of strangers. If you stop or slow down or go too fast people will notice.” To the children it says, “Hi. I am your neighbor and I know where you live. I want to be your friend. I will notice if you do something wrong and will probably tell your parents.” Guess what? A simple wave of the hand is worth a thousand words too.
Ever wave “hello” to your local law enforcement officer? Try it. Do you think they will wave back? You bet they will. Why? Because they know how important it is to maintain good community relations. They want you to know that they are real people too. Even though they have been sworn to protect and to serve, they sincerely care about the community and the people in it and are always looking for an opportunity to show it. The message you send when you wave to an Officer or Sheriff is, “I am glad you are around. I‘m on your side. I support law enforcement.”
There is a strategy in the “wave” idea. Waving gives you an excuse or reason to look at people; to notice their clothing, their cars, which home they are at, and who their friends are. Strangers are identified and put on notice. A burglar casing the area will want to avoid the “eyes and ears” of the neighborhood. New people are welcomed and feel accepted instead of feeling ignored, isolated or disregarded. The children and young people, one of the most important connections of a neighborhood network, learn civic responsibility and feel included. Long time residents will feel supported and secure. Of course the impact of the “wave” principle will be much greater if everybody in the neighborhood gets into the act. Just get it started and it becomes contagious.
What if someone doesn’t wave back? If it’s a stranger, just be aware and make a mental note to remember who they are, just in case you see them again. Is it a neighbor? They were probably so shocked that you acknowledged their existence, they didn’t know how to respond or they didn’t notice your greeting or maybe it has just been a bad day. Give it time and keep trying! It’s a fact that the lack of communication among neighbors is probably the biggest reason that some neighborhoods are easy targets for the criminal element. It’s not that people don’t care; they just don’t show how much they do care. Waving is a way to let others know that you are out there and that you will stand with them. Somewhere along the way many seem to have lost or forgotten what it means to be a community, to be neighborly, and to take care of their own. Waving at each other can help change all that by breaking the ice and opening long neglected or strained lines of communication. A little wave can help begin to smooth over years of contention or frustration between neighbors and create new bonds of friendliness, kindness and support. If problems should arise between neighbors, they will be easier to solve if you have a track record of cheerful waving.
Well, there you have it. A simple, easy, non-contact way to meet your neighbors and fight crime at the same time. There is no telling how much goodwill you could manufacture if you were to add a smile and a few words of positive greeting to your wave.
There are many ways to wave. What is your style? Here are a few: a parade queen’s figure eight, wiggling all of your fingers, a military style salute, a robotic jerk of the hand, tip of the hat, or just the flash of the palm. No matter what your style, try the “wave” and see for yourself if it doesn’t make a difference for good and become a wonderful and meaningful habit.
