Say “Hello” to Someone Today
By Barrington H. Brennen, July 27, 2022
Since November 2011, the Bahamas Friendship
Council has been coordinating The Bahamas
National Friendship Day on the fourth
Wednesday of November each year. This day
was designed to rekindle or cultivate and
inspire long-term friendship relationships
among the citizens and residents of The
Bahamas. It is another avenue to
rejuvenate a spirit of togetherness, respect
for one another, unity, and healthy national
pride.
With all the tragedy and pain being
experienced in our country today, it is
imperative that National Friendship Day
serve as a reminder to care for and respect
one another, no matter the race,
nationality, socio-economic standard,
education, or position in society. Hence,
the theme for National Friendship Day on
November 23rd this year is “Say
“Hello” to Someone Today.”
I was impressed to use this theme after
watching a video this week about the
experience of a noted forensic psychologist
whose responsibility was to find out why
people would jump off the Golden Gate Bridge
in San Francisco, California, USA, to kill
themselves. The forensic psychologist had
responded to hundreds of these suicides.
But one stood out in his mind.
Most persons who killed themselves this way
would leave a note behind. Reading them
became routine for the psychologist. But
one note left behind on the person’s bedroom
dresser shocked him. The note said this:
“I am walking to the bridge now. If one
person stops me on the way and says “Hello”
I am turning around and coming home.”
There are many hurting in our country, and
you can be the one to make a difference in
that person’s life. With this simple word
“Hello” you can be the one to save a
person’s life or to add meaning and purpose
to that person. Therefore, we are
promoting Say "Hello" to Someone Today” as
the action theme for this year’s National
Friendship Day. However, you do not have to
wait until November to say “Hello.” You can
start now.
Not everyone who feels hopeless or down in
the dumps will kill themselves. However,
they do not have the get-up-and-go in their
lives. They believe that they do not have
anything valuable to present to the world.
They feel worthless and foolish. Then there
are many who are angry and revengeful. One
of the reasons would be that no one or very
few people made them feel important. They
also may have witnessed anger and violence
and were ashamed more than praised most of
their lives. When people look at them, they
can only see eyes beaming with disgust
penetrating their souls. They want to run
away from those piercing eyes, or they
become more furious and angrier. Why not
let’s stop those judging looks and simply
say “Hello” with a warm smile on your face.
Let your voice touch the inner soul of that
wounded person.
I love calling people on the phone just to
say “hello.” I would tell them that I am
just calling to say hello and to let our
voices touch and also to let you know I am
thinking about you today. Each time I do
that it has been a meaningful experience.
Let us make National Friendship Day 2022 a
purposeful experience in our little nation.
We can start now. I am wishing that every
merchant store promotes “Say Hello to
Someone Today” and do something to reach out
to the rejected and wounded. I am
encouraging every educational institution on
every level to be creative in promoting this
day and the theme. I will be thrilled if
every church will have a National Friendship
Day service and fellowship meal for their
neighbors and members together. I would be
delighted if every youth group--The Boys and
Girls Brigades, Pathfinders, Awana, etc.,
participate in this cause. All of these
organizations can visit the friendship
website to download the National Friendship
Anthem and Pledge. The website is
www.soencouragement.org/friendshipday
Yes, National Friendship Day is on
Wednesday, November 23, 2022, with the
theme: “Say Hello to Someone Today.”
However, let’s not wait until November. Let
us begin now by saying “hello” to someone
and being kind and respectful. Utilize the
upcoming holidays to do something special
for someone. Make every day in your life a
good day for someone else also.
I invite every resident of the country to
participate—Bahamian citizens, permanent
residents, Haitians, Jamaicans, Philippines,
Germans, Americans, Canadians, Barbadians,
Nigerians, South Africans, Chinese, British,
French, Indians, Greeks, Italians,
Bermudians, and a whole lot more.
Say "hello" to someone today.
Barrington H. Brennen is a marriage and
family therapist. Send your questions or
comments to
question@soencouragement.org
or call 242-372 1980 or visit
www.soencouragement.org
