Why saying hello to strangers can be good for you

Global Health Why saying hello to strangers can be good for you May 9, 20267:20 AM ET By  Rhitu Chatterjee ,  Marc Silver Laura Gao for NPR Hello, stranger! That's a good thing to say, as we reported in a story we published three years ago: Why a stranger's hello can do more than just brighten your day. Correspondent Rhitu Chatterjee reported on studies showing that simply chatting with strangers has a lasting impact: It can make the participants happy. Even smiling and waving hello to a vendor you see regularly can boost your spirits, says psychologist Gillian Sandstrom, who delved into the benefits of social ties after her own uplifting exchanges with a hot dog seller during a time when she was feeling really isolated. Sponsor Message The article struck a chord with readers, who shared their own stories of random encounters. And it keeps on inspiring people. A few weeks ago, we heard from Kristin Jenkins, an infection preventionist and a global health professor at Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, Mich. She told us that she asks her students to read the story and then try engaging with strangers and casual acquaintances. She had thought they'd enjoy the assignment. And they did. What surprised her was how many of her students, "whether they were an introvert or extrovert, indicated that they wanted to continue practicing intentionality. This illustrates an important life lesson; when we are deliberate in showing kindness — even through simple conversations — it benefits us as much as the recipient." Jenkins shared some of the written responses from her students. We'd like to highlight a few — and republish the original story as well. "With this article in the back of my head, I started my interaction with the mechanic at Discount Tire by asking his name and shaking his hand," wrote Alaina Avery. "The interaction went even better because the mechanic started having a wonderful conversation about nursing school. Driving home from the mechanic, I felt...