When you walking are you a person who keeps their head down , head phones in? Or a person who smiles at your fellows path walkers?
I’m a smiler. Mostly because I live in the friendly Midwest but also because I was taught to make eye contact (as a woman) so people know you see them. Some days I’n head down headphones in but 80% smiles. Sometimes even a hello in passing.
Smile and say hello. No headphones when Im walking
Despite being shy, I’m a smiler and greeter. I like to acknowledge folks around me as I like to be acknowledged myself.
Me too! Im a smiler and a say “hello” er. Try to get a smile out of people.
I would definitely greet you back
headphones are in but head is high and i try to make smile, nod or wave contact with each person i pass (depending on how bundled i am LOL)
The few people that are chronically grumpy i have stopped addressing – not wasting my time or smile
I smile at people but I don’t stop to talk. I go walking because I want to see the forest and the trees and animals (I like to walk in the forest).
Im a smiler and a small waver
Definitely a smile and a hello or wave from me.
From a professional standpoint (I teach martial arts and Self-defense), you should keep your head up and be aware of your surroundings at all times (no head down looking at the ground). Dont use 2 headphones keep one ear open so you can hear. Make eye contact with people so they know you know they are there (but dont stare them down because thats a sign of aggression).
That being said, I like to smile, say hi, and talk to their dogs if they have one
Definitely a smiler and a greeter if I feel it’s met. I usually have headphones in and the interaction is very brief, but I have actual smiling friends now. There’s a few old ladies who walk around the park and always seem genuinely happy to see me and we smile and say hello. I often wonder if I’m the only person who acknowledged them that day? If so, I’m really glad that we have this connection as it makes me feel nice too.
I’m a smiler and say hello to everyone.
Even when on occasion I walk with headphones in
I like to keep aware of my surroundings so keep my head up and make myself larger. If have headphones in which is rare I keep them on very low volume. Here it is considered very rude to smile while passing on a street especially to a stranger and to knod your head is okay if female to female or male to male but it isn’t seen as normal behavior. But to make eye contact at them is a bit like giving the middle finger no matter what sex you are. And if I make eye contact with a man as a woman then they would consider this ‘an invitation to marriage’. So my rule of thumb is never ever make any eye contact which is very difficult if I then am in the environment of other Westerners.
If I see someone I am friends with or a neighbor (only woman) I then stop to kiss their cheeks and say hey but usually we end up talking to long so I avoid heavily populated places for longer walks.
I found this a fascinating thread to read through!
Its so interesting to hear peoples thoughts and interactions. Now im curious as the where you are from?
Technically I’m from America but have spent the last 10 years living in Kyrgyzstan (last 15 years living in Central Asia). I’ve not been back to the states in the past 15 years or so. So I’m not very Western anymore.
I walk with headphones everyday . I take one side of them out if I see another person walking towards me so I can hear. I always smile and say morning.
I like to smile and greet. It goes easier with women I encounter in the streets. (The center of) Amsterdam is too busy to greet people most of the time. I do seek eye contact as that is normal for Dutchies. And like to exchange smiles.
It can be complicated though, as there’s so many people from different cultural backgrounds these days, and smiling and looking directly at people can sometime make them mad (Laner’s explanation a good example how it can work with other cultures). But I do like to make a bit of small talk with random folks I meet.
Outside of town I almost always greet and smile. I do have earplugs with music quite often, but that doesn’t hinder me from saying hi. Full headphones do hamper me so I prefer earplugs.
@Frank68 Reminds my of my own vigilance which doesn’t come form professionalism but from trauma and an unsafe upbringing. I’m on alert most of the times, but less in nature than in town.
What I like about walking is being in nature and taking in the sights and sounds. The only time I ever really wear headphones is for running. I smile at everybody anywhere I go bc I feel like the world needs more happiness in it. 50/50 to get one in return.
Omg not sure if I lived there if I would have too many suitors or enemies . I would have to learn to lower my eyes and divert attention from myself. You really need to write down these lessons you have incorporated into your daily life.