The power of "Hello"

On rare occasion, I walk around the corner and swim at the gym. I seem to encounter the gardener for the building across the street more often than not on my walk. I always say “Hello”, often commenting on his late hours. We occasional chat and over time I eventually get up enough nerve to ask him to be my gardener.
 
Nope.
 
I’m defeated like a lost lover but I’ll take my blows as they come.
 
I still say “Hello” when I see him.
 
One day I notice he’s in a walking boot which is a medical device to aid your ability to walk when a foot injury has occurred. We’ve built up enough of a “Hello” relationship that I walk over and check in on him. The discussion goes beyond gardening.
 
He then disappears for a long time.
 
I finally see him tonight and yell “Hi!” from across the driveway. He’s walking, with a slight limp, but walking and we meet to talk. He notices my front yard looks good and I explain that I fired the horrible guy I picked up “cheap” and found a new gardener who is overcharging (in my book) but doing a fabulous job so maybe isn’t overcharging? He asks if the new gardener has fertilized. I have no idea but it sparks a conversation about watering.
 
“Exactly how long and when do you water your lawn?”, I ask.

Suddenly I’m getting a tutorial on how to use my sprinkler control panel, which I know how to use BUT I don’t say anything because he’s GIVING. Next thing I know we are watching one of my sprinkler heads not rising, which the new gardener had also noticed, but did nothing about. He reaches down, tugs and voila!, it pops up and works. The new gardener would have charged me. Out of the kindness of his heart, my new friend from across the street helped out for free.
 
We simply never know where the next act of kindness will come from, even if it’s from our simply saying “Hello”.  When can you make 5 seconds to smile and say "Hello" to someone?