Do we really mean what we say?

Ever since the surge in the development of technology, communication has increased leaps and bounds. Mobile phones have become a part of our life, an inseparable one that too. But throughout this advancement, one thing has remained as strong as a bastion. It is the way how we salute people after picking up our phone.

‘Hello’ we say as we pick up our phones. Have you ever wondered why we say ‘hello’?

If you think Graham bell had a girlfriend called Margaret Hello and as a token of remembrance used her second name, then you are wrong. It is one of the common misconceptions about the usage of this word. There was no person called Margaret Hello, let alone her being Graham Bell’s girlfriend.

What is more interesting is that ‘Hello’ was introduced by Thomas Edison and not by Graham Bell at all. He urged people to use ‘Hello’ instead of using ‘Ahoy-hoy’ which Graham Bell considered appropriate. Well then, the article is not to speculate about the usage of ‘hello’ but about how it is being used.

How many times have we lifted our receiver and blankly said ‘hello’? If the word ‘hello’ is a salutation, then should we not carry any emotion while we utter the word? It has become a habit, and almost forgotten aspect in the swirl of time that we no longer care for the emotion from the words we are spoken to.

In the same way, how many times have we said ‘Good morning’ or ‘Good night’ without actually meaning it? If we are wishing them a GOOD night or a GOOD morning, should we not mean it whole heartedly? All this is pretty similar to typing ‘lol’ with an absolutely stoic face.

The next time you wish somebody a good morning, try to sound as you really mean it. Rather than a cursory ‘Good morning’, ‘Good night’ or ‘Hello’, try giving some emotion to it. Mean the word whole heartedly before uttering it. It might not look different to you, but it would certainly sound different to the person you are speaking you. Have a GOOD DAY.