When Did We Stop Saying Hello?

Growing up in Sydney in the 90s and 00s, a simple “Hello” or “Good day” to a stranger wasn’t a grand gesture—it was just what you did during walks or in passing. A small exchange and moment of connection between those living in the same society. It was basic etiquette.

Lately, I’ve noticed those moments becoming rare in the city I grew up in. A simple smile or nod is often left unreciprocated and the culture of connecting with a stranger seems to be dying. People keep their heads down, their eyes glued to screens, or avoid eye contact altogether. Passing someone on the street often feels like an exercise in being invisible.

I miss the warmth of those fleeting greetings. I miss the feeling of being part of a community, even if only for a second. It’s as if the thread that connected us to each other has frayed, replaced by modern life and the invisible walls we’ve all built around ourselves.

What Happened?

I’ve wondered what changed. Maybe it’s the pace of life—everything feels faster, busier, more consuming. Or perhaps it’s the growing sense of individualism, the idea that we’re all just islands navigating our separate paths. Technology, for all its benefits, certainly doesn’t help. We’re more connected than ever, yet somehow more disconnected from the people physically around us.

Whatever the reason, I can’t shake the feeling that we’re losing something important. Those small exchanges—saying hello, holding a door, sharing a smile—remind us that we’re not alone. They’re tiny threads that weave the fabric of a society that feels like home.

The Wish for Kindness

I wish and long for a world where we treat each other like neighbours again. Where we recognise that, whether we know someone personally or not, they’re part of our shared humanity. Saying “Good morning” to a stranger won’t solve the world’s problems, but it can spark something—a reminder that we’re all in this together.

When we acknowledge each other, we’re reminded of our interdependence. The barista who knows your order before you ask, the neighbor who waves from their porch, the stranger who gives a friendly nod on a morning walk—these small acts build the unseen network that holds a community together.

Starting with a Smile

So, I’m actively trying to bring back the habit in my own life. When I pass someone on a walk, I smile, say hello, or nod. Sometimes I get a response, sometimes I don’t. But when I do, it feels like a tiny victory, a little moment of warmth in an often cold world.

It’s a small thing, but it’s something I can do. And maybe, if enough of us make the effort, we can start to weave that fabric back together. After all, society isn’t some abstract concept—it’s made up of us. The way we treat each other, the connections we nurture, the kindness we extend—it’s all up to us.

So, to anyone reading this: good morning, good day, good evening. Let’s not stop saying hello.