Our hiking trails are a great place to say hello

By Mike Nolan

Retirement gives me extra time to enjoy scenic walks. The Dungeness Spit, Hurricane Ridge, and the Olympic Discovery Trail are among my favorite hikes. Some days I go with a friend, sometimes alone. When I’m by myself, I naturally key in on the other folks I pass going the other way. If I walk within six feet of someone, I look at them and say hello, and notice if they make eye contact, acknowledge me or say something in return.

In general, I can predict a fellow hiker’s reaction to me based on their age. It’s not like I’ve conducted a data-driven study or done scientific research, but I do think I see a trend: youngsters and seniors typically look at me and say hello. The age groups in the middle—typically the young adults—tend to look beyond me and remain silent as we pass.

I probably sound like a “cranky old man” complaining about the younger generation, but that’s not my intent at all. Far from it. I’m only making an observation, not a criticism.

I have nothing but admiration for the younger generation, and my feelings come first-hand: my three kids are all in their 30s, and I'm the first to admit they are far ahead of where I was at their age. They have more aspirations, take on more challenges, and do more than I ever dreamed of. To them everything is “full speed ahead,” and I appreciate that. But I still wonder what causes the behavior I’ve observed.

Maybe young adults’ level of accomplishment, their drive and determination, comes at the expense of slowing down to take notice of others. Or perhaps their generation feels a reluctance to engage because of their greater awareness of, and sensitivity to, other individuals' dierences (which is a good thing). Maybe they are being more mindful of boundaries, of personal space, and choose to keep their distance so as not to oend.

Or maybe it’s cultural pressure they feel. I’ve seen this generational dierence turned to comic eect. There’s a television commercial— aimed at young adults—about not turning into your parents. In it, one of the behaviors comically mocked is speaking to strangers unprompted. It’s funny. But even when I consider where this generation might be coming from, what reservations or concerns they may have, I still don’t think they should jettison that particular behavior.

Something tells me all of us should want to acknowledge one another, speak to each other, even if only in a lighthearted or casual way. Wouldn’t it be beneficial to everyone if the commercial coached people—young and old—to slow down, make eye contact and say hello? Divided as our country is, communicating with the folks around us could actually bring a measure of hope and healing to our current situation. It could at least serve as a beginning.

Cranky old man or not, I see talking to strangers as a parental habit worth emulating. From my point of view, it’s okay to slow down and take notice. Go ahead, young adults, stop and say hello. If nothing else, you know your parents would approve. .

Mike Nolan is a freelance writer who lives in Port Angeles. To find out more about him, visit mikenolanstoryteller. com.

Freelance writer Mike Nolan of Port Angeles enjoys hiking on the Olympic Peninsula and saying hello to everyone he encounters. | Photo courtesy of Mike Nolan