to smile or not to smile.....

On the way to the fun filled library this morning i was struck by a couple of things (not literally).

We, people, especially in this culture of ours, don't like to say hello, or be very cheery, chatty to anyone we don't know. I came to this conclusion as i was waiting at the bus stop and a middle aged lady just smiled and said 'good morning'. I had no idea who she was and i was shocked at how confused and disorientated it made me feel. Who was she, what was her agenda, what did she think she was doing? My conclusion was that she was being friendly in a community kind of way, and that i was a grumpy goit who likes to keep himself to himself.

This state of affairs was confirmed when someone dropped a load of stuff on the floor, and i looked the other way as my bus was coming.

We (well me anyway) are certainly individuals in this day and age. It felt like a shame. In my head i love community, sharing lives, journeying together. But i am all to quick to impose boundaries around that. Community but on my terms. Whilst i see the need for boundaries etc it struck me as a shame that society seems to put up boundaries first, and make commuinity second.