It could be someone opening a door for you, pressing the cross-walk button when your arms are full, or just a simple ‘hi, how are you?.” When was the last time someone asked how you were and really listened to your answer? Did it make a difference in your day?

These small gestures can make such a huge difference to all of us. So let’s celebrate the small gestures we receive from others, and then try to start something amazing with a “hi” of our own!

 Tell us about your favourite hi — given or received.

Taking that extra step to say hi to someone is sometimes so easy, we don’t even notice it happening. It just feels so natural to chat with someone at an elevator, or show some kindness to the person next to you in line. Opening our eyes to these moments will make it even easier to start with hi the next time.

Head to Facebook and share your easiest-ever hi with us!

We saw adorable animals saying hi, small gestures that can make a big difference and a few sports teams who know how to make others feel included. We talked about reaching out to strangers in simple and safe ways to encourage inclusion.

Some wonderful people in our community have shared stories of close friends, neighbours and even their own experiences. A few of us even tried taking the first step and saying hi and we’re so excited that more of us are willing to try new things and practice inclusion in our own ways.

April is going to be a lovely, sunny month. We’re going to talk about what saying hi can mean and what it can feel like.

So have a great long weekend! Start a holiday with a simple hi!

This week, we’re asking about what makes it challenging to say hi to others. Everyone has been in a situation where they know in advance that it might not be easy to say hi and let things happen. Haven’t we all been out shopping and decided in advance to avoid eye contact because we don’t want a hard sell? How about when someone pulls up their car to ask directions?

At times, it can feel like our guard has to be up because we’re trying to feel safe. We want to make our communities stronger and more tightly knit, but getting started can feel a little bit risky.

The funny thing is, starting with a simple hi can actually help keep us all safer. The more likely we are to say hi to our neighbours, the stronger our neighbourhoods become! Plus, once you get to know someone, they’re more likely to respect your boundaries.

Tell us what makes it harder to start with hi, and what you do to overcome them.

This March, we’re looking at how people say Hi in lots of different ways. A Hi isn’t always a verbal communication. Sometimes it’s a wave, it can be a look, or just a nod to someone on your street. Acknowledging each other is simple, and it makes such a difference to everyone.

Tell us about how a simple Hi made a big difference to you, or tell us your favourite way to say Hi to someone else.

When we stop to share a simple Hi, big things can happen.

We all feel this way. It’s normal and it makes sense.

Starting with Hi is really about taking basic steps. A hi is simple, and easy. And it might just be a small part of your day. Sometimes, a hi can blossom into a whole new friendship.

Being a good neighbour isn’t about obligations, or time and energy. It’s about doing what you can, when you can. It’s about those small moments that make all the difference to you and others around you.

What small gestures mean the most to you?

Get To Know Emily from startwithhi.ca on Vimeo.

We joined Emily to talk about building neighbourhoods with a simple hi. She shared her day meeting new friends and expressing why a hi makes her feel more safe in the community. Emily feels that when someone says hi to her, she feels more at ease.

That made a lot of sense, and so did the next part of Emily’s day. She volunteers at S.U.C.C.E.S.S., an organization devoted to helping new Canadians find their way. If you’ve ever moved to a new neighbourhood – let alone a new country – you know how uncomfortable  a new home can feel at first. For Emily, saying hi is not just about making her feel safe when others say hi to her directly. It’s Emily’s bright, charming hi that she sends out to everyone around her!

Life in January tends to mean waiting around for spring when the fun really starts to happen. But there are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself and your community every day, no matter the temperature. And the best part is they don’t come with all the holiday pressure! Look around for new ways to get exercise (hello resolution), new exhibits to experience, festivals, and of course, Chinese New Year!

It doesn’t have to take a huge commitment. Just walking the dog with a neighbour, or offering a ride to the grocery store when it’s slippery out can make a huge difference to you and  someone nearby.

Opening up ourselves to fun and leisure – in any season – helps us open up to other people. Giving yourself a boost of brightness can change your whole season for the better.

What do you do to brighten up this time of year?

After our great holiday break, and everyone is getting back to a more regular schedule. Now is the time to restart our routines, and to say hi to new ways of looking at things that might seem familiar. The New Year is a time of adventure when you everything around you can seem different, and when new ideas suddenly seem possible.

It’s also a time to make new things happen. Resolutions about diet, exercise, work, friends, school, and anything else, are all just ways to say we want to do better. We want to make new, helpful habits that can change us – and the world around us – for the better.

Making your everyday world that much warmer and brighter is just what’s needed at the beginning of the year when everything is new (and when it’s still wintery!)

Share your inclusion resolution with us!