Nearly every day as I am walking back from leaving Adam at his school, I pass a young lady heading to the college that’s just past it.

The first time I passed her, I admired her head-scarf, in my mind, which was just beautiful. I realized I was staring as she came towards me as she glared, I’m sure expecting censure, obviously not being Christian and proud of it in this oh so Christian country. We both had headsets in so I didn’t speak, but I smiled at her and probably blushed a bit for being caught staring. She smiled back and visibly relaxed.

Every time I see her now we smile at each other. And mouth ‘good morning’, since we both are still listening to music.

I hope some day to see her around our little part of Belfast when she isn’t in a hurry to get to school and I’m not already thinking of what I have to do for the rest of the day. Because I want to say “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable that first time. I really was just admiring your gorgeous head-scarf. All of your head-scarves are gorgeous, actually.”

So before you get your back up by someone staring at you, try smiling. And if something attracts your attention on someone, smile.

Make a connection.