think of strangers as being a little more like you and treat them not only with kindness and respect but with smiles and eye contact as well, you’ll probably notice some pretty nice changes in yourself. You’ll begin to see that most people are just like you—most of them have families, people they love, troubles, concerns, likes, dislikes, fears, and so forth. You’ll also notice how nice and grateful people can be when you’re the first one to reach out.

