Welcome to the Daily Quote – a podcast designed to kickstart your day in a positive way. I'm Andrew McGivern for November 21st.
Today is World Hello Day – a global celebration of communication and peace.
Founded in 1973 by brothers Brian and Michael McCormack in response to the Yom Kippur War, World Hello Day promotes a simple idea: conflicts should be resolved through communication, not force. The tradition is beautifully straightforward – greet at least ten people today.
That's it. No grand gestures. No protests or petitions. Just say hello to ten people and demonstrate that personal communication can change the world. Since its founding, World Hello Day has been observed in 180 countries, supported by Nobel Peace Prize winners, and embraced by world leaders.
It's proof that the smallest acts – a greeting, a smile, a moment of acknowledgment – can build bridges.
Television producer Philip Rosenthal captured this perfectly when he said:
"You know what happens when you say 'hello' or 'good morning?' You make a connection. And isn't that what being human is all about?"
Rosenthal understands that every greeting is an act of recognition. When you say hello, you're saying, "I see you. You exist. You matter."
In our distracted world – heads down, earbuds in, eyes on screens – a simple hello is radical. It breaks the bubble of isolation. It acknowledges shared humanity. It creates, even for a second, connection.
World Hello Day reminds us that peace doesn't start with treaties or negotiations. It starts with the willingness to acknowledge another person's existence. Every conflict resolved began with someone saying hello and choosing communication over silence.
There's an older man who walks the same route I do every morning. For weeks, we'd pass without acknowledgment – two strangers avoiding eye contact.
One day, I said, "Good morning." He looked surprised, then smiled, "Good morning to you too."
Now we greet each other daily. I know his name. He knows mine. We chat about the weather, complain about traffic, share the occasional joke. That simple "good morning" transformed my walk. What was once lonely routine became a moment of human connection.
All because someone said hello.
Today, greet ten people. Say hello to your barista, your mail carrier, your coworker, the stranger on the elevator. Make eye contact. Smile. Acknowledge their presence.
Notice what happens. Notice how it feels to connect, even briefly. Notice how most people light up when someone actually sees them.
World Hello Day reminds us: peace starts small. It starts with hello. It starts with choosing connection over isolation. It starts with you.
So go ahead – make ten connections today. Be the person who says hello.
That's going to do it for today. I'm Andrew McGivern signing off for now but I'll be back tomorrow. Same Pod time, same Pod Station - with another Daily Quote.