Twenty-six of the greatest lessons I was ever taught.

This is a chapter from The ABCs of Dan M. Wilson.

Interaction with others is something that takes place nearly every single day of our lives. Be it with someone we know very well, an acquaintance, or even a complete stranger you will cross paths with another human being today, tomorrow, and the day after that. Even for an introvert like myself, it’s something that is going to happen.

While it is your choice entirely on whether or not you extend a greeting to anyone you encounter, I was given the following advice from Dad:

“Greet people in a way so that they know you are truly glad to see them.”

It’s a well known fact that people respond positively to kind facial expressions. Your grandfather was the undisputed master at conveying this. Think back to the numerous times when we’d go up to visit Grandma Pat and Grandpa Dan and he’d first see you. Now compare that to when you bump into someone else you know. It was a world of difference as Grandpa Dan would light up and greet you in a manner that made you feel like the center of the universe.

Throughout the years I observed this phenomenon with studious eyes. It was amazing to see how positively people reacted to bumping into Dad. Some of his greetings were simple, others elaborate. Most had a hint of humor. All were sincere.

Comical greetings he used with people he knew very well were:

• “Well there (he/she) is!”
• “Holy mackerel, it’s Mr./Miss (insert name)!”
• “Boy, they’ll let anyone in here…”

“Greet people in a way so that they know you are truly glad to see them.”

That last one always elicited a laugh from his victim. Dad would complete the greeting with either a pat on the back or a handshake.

Greetings he used on strangers included:

• “Good morning/afternoon/evening” spoken in a matter of fact tone, accentuated with a nod of his head as if tipping his hat
• “Greetings!”
• “How are you?”

The above mentioned greetings were delivered in a simple, friendly manner.

Another aspect of the proper way to greet people was the art of the handshake. It’s such a simple gesture but so many people don’t do it correctly. Extend your hand confidently, give a firm yet not overbearing grip, and maintain eye contact while shaking hands. Offer a few words such as “nice to meet you” or merely nod your head once to acknowledge the person. That’s it. This applies the same if you are shaking hands with a man or a woman, although you can use a slightly less firm grip with a woman.

Having grown up in an era when men tipped their hats to a lady, Grandpa Dan knew how to properly greet someone no matter the situation. I consider myself extremely lucky to have been taught this lesson early on as it has paid off in spades.