105. The Wave

This listener’s pandemic era practice of waving to one stranger is their okay thing.

Transcripts may not appear in their final version and are subject to change.

INTRO MUSIC

I’m Nora McInerny and it’s going to be okay. 

And today’s okay thing comes from a listener named Sarah: 

EMAIL WOOSH

Okay Listener: My story takes place in the early days of covid lockdowns. It was long after the original two weeks and I was definitely feeling isolated and disconnected. Interestingly, I am a therapist and I was talking to people every day but it wasn’t about me. And I just was not feeling a sense of connection. 

I live in a village, population under 2000. It was basically a ghost town, especially in the mornings when I walked my dogs. I decided to put my therapist skills to work to try to make a connection. I made a plan for myself to wave at this young man who had been waiting on the side of the road for his ride to work each morning. We would be on opposite sides of the road. I decided I would wave every day for the next work week, 5 days. 

Day one, I shyly lifted my hand and waved. He very hesitantly waved back. Day two, another shy wave from me and a slightly less hesitant wave back from him. By Friday, day five, I was ready for my experiment to be done. My self talk was negative that I had been stupid to think I could build connections like this.

As I neared the guy, I took a deep breath and prepared to wave. I look over and this guy was waved first. And doing like a fully body, happy wave. I cried. I felt seen that day.

We went on to wave daily, never exchanging a word. Small village or not, I had no idea who he was. But within a few months he was no longer waiting for a morning ride. He was driving his own car to, presumably, work. Its now 2023 and we still wave to each other every morning when he drives by as I walk my dog. 

I still do not know who he is though.

OUTRO MUSIC

CREDITS