There’s a grumpy areshole who lives in my street, he doesn’t like me or any women. For 17 years I have, as cheerily as possible with my biggest smile, said good morning to him. For 17 years I’ve never received more than a nod, mostly he ignores me. Yesterday he smiled & said good morning. I won.
He's put a contract out on you.
Few can resist a smile and a warm hello. I worked for years with a crotchety doctor that scowled daily at everyone, including me and my smile and warm hello. Finally, after years of trying, she finally said hello back and smiled. I got a "win", too.
I love doing this with older coworkers. I don’t mind if you don’t like me, you don’t even know me. Smile back when you’re ready
Yes!! I'll always smile; it's particularly fun when you smile at someone with an unknown beef with you.😊
Isn’t it sweet when it comes? ♥️
Yes! This was so big for me, I remember the day and it was 8 years ago! I see her picture on FB now and she's smiling; she's also retired so that may play a part in that smile 😊
I love this, it’s part of being human ♥️
Lucky you. I know my neighbor’s whole day by day medical history.
Ha ha! I know that with one of mine too 😁
Mine has somewhat high cholesterol. Yours?
😂!
I’ve got one too! Yesterday I waved at him like a maniac. He just stared at me. I win!
You are persistent and determined. Kudos to you for sticking with it especially with someone who clearly isn't friendly. That's absolutely a big win! Hope it continues!
We all did, then. Thank you.
He capitulated
He did! Or maybe he thinks he won 🤣
Yup- I’ve got one like that on our road too he’s a MAGA goonie with hand written signs reiterating Fox News lies…sad really
Wow! I sometimes wonder if that’s really who they are or a result of what they are fed via the media, community etc. It is sad. I’m in the uk but you see them here, the worst time was for the Brexit vote, biggest turnout for voting I have seen, all in their union flag t-shirts 🤦♀️
Both Brexit and Trump being voted into the WH was the work of Peter Theil, computer nerds (forgot their name) allowing Cameron to follow through
Absolutely and Cameron knew exactly what he was doing before he walked away.
Persistence does pay off if one has the patience. Sadly, most of us don't.
Let's look at it the other way round. Imagine a man who, for 17 years, smiled at a woman and she scowled and ignored him. If, one day, she finally smiled back and the man crowed that he'd won (won what I wonder) every woman here would say "ewwwww". I propose leaving people alone if they signal it.
It’s really not like that at all I assure you. This man is incredibly unpleasant to (almost) all. He would rather have a reason to be aggressive towards his neighbours but I’ve always taken pleasure in being nice and not giving him a reason.
Just got a little extra info but without saying too much, I don’t stand there smiling at this guy, I smile and say good morning as I pass by. This man only speaks to a couple of (male) neighbours & thinks women should be kept in their place. I am putting this very mildly.
This is how it's done. I had a co-worker who clearly didn't like me, didn't think I belonged in our work environs. I was always uber cheerful to him, asked after his kids, etc. It used to piss him off. Over time he seemed to soften, become less dismissive. It was great.
Brilliant! I think we have choices about the way we behave, I choose to smile 😁
Maybe all this time he had a very painful dingle berry and finally had a hemorrhoidectomy and now feels like he has a new lease on life and you absolutely did win! I applaud your perseverance.
Nevertheless, she persisted!
All I can visualise is this guy! Well done for making a breakthrough 🥳
[tiz actually a woman who Smiles til she realizes she's being watched]
🤣 If he was bald that’s be pretty accurate! I played the long game and I won. The kids look forward to my over the top cheerfulness when they see the neighbour because they know he won’t respond. I’m so glad they were there to witness the victory. Tomorrow I’ll push my luck and say “how are you?” 😂
😂 you certainly did play a very long game 😂 you must have some patience, that's so funny! Would love to see what happens.
I will report back! I’m thinking it was probably a lapse on his part and he was so angry that he went inside and punched a cupboard 😂
😂
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
♥️
dude. Lovely story! sounds like you Both won.
Kudos for playing the long game!
I passed a Dr every morning. I greeted him. He ignored me. As a female phlebotomist I doubly didn’t rate notice. Years later, he forgot, smiled and said, “Good morning.” He stopped dead, shook himself. Then, speaking to himself said, “There’s no reason I can’t say hello.” So he did each day after.
That is an odd thing to say to himself. Did he think saying hi might count as harassment or something?
I think he was taught years ago that physicians were the hospital elite and so should only acknowledge other physicians and registered nurses. In his favor, he seemed much happier once he gave himself permission to smile and speak to anyone.
Could be, my friend’s late Nan was a midwife in the 60s and she said the doctors were so rude and only acknowledged her and her colleagues in the shortest way possible.
It might be a neurodivergent thing, my son does it when he has done something he wouldn’t usually do.
Oh good thought.
I love this!
I hope you have a career in sales! That is tenacity 💪
Alas I am but a poor artist 🤣
This restores my faith in humanity.
Nicely Done! ❤️
He finally won, too. He found joy. You helped him. 🫡
Your comment brought tears to these 'old' eyes. Thank you. I needed this more than I can express.
I’m really glad, sometimes the little things are the big things x
A smile can go a long way...
Hopefully you just gave a nod back??
I was so shocked I can’t remember what I did 🤣
Congratulations!!
Thank you 😁
The art of the long game. Well played ✊🏼
Way to persist. 😸
Another convert! Kindness matters.
Isn’t that just GREAT?? Imagine how you have made HIM feel, in the end!
Impressive
If you aren't already familiar with the Tom Hanks movie 'A man called Otto', you should check it out - or the original book, 'A man called Ove'. Kinda reminds me of this story.
The long game. Well done
Honestly I don't think I'm *that* grumpy. And I never said I didn't like you. Sheesh.
🤣
That is a hell of a win. Well done. The world is what we make it.
Kill them with kindness 😎💙
Bravo! 🫂🌹🫂
Victory is truly sweet.
It really is 😁
The long game.
The old fossil might want something from you. Watch your back.
That’s a terrifying thought!
Your kindness and thoughtfulness may very well have worn him down, but one can never be sure these days.
That would scare the s*** out of me. I would keep a close eye on him.
I think I just caught him off guard but to be honest he’s the sort of guy we keep an eye on anyway!
Yes! Victory!
Personally I think you both won.
Nevertheless she persisted. You're a good human.
Must want something from you then 🤔
Yes, yes you did!
way to kick his ass with kindness. nice job. in the hood i've had to fight three punks to keep my backpack i'm glad you're safe. know that fascists will have to come men like me to get to your families. there are more of us than folks seem to realize.
If all battles were fought this way, the world would be such a better place.
The most civilised of battles 🤣
Kill them with kindness. You never know what another being is going through.
Next door apartment neighbor won’t even acknowledge your there, no eye contact, ever Not even a grunt after you say Hi I gave up I just refer to him as the serial killer Or S.K. for short And my wife chastises me for it 😉
My dad used to take those people as his pet projects. He’d say he’s gonna love the hell out of them. He always won! Thanks for your patience and making your street a touch more hospitable! Keep up the great work ❤️
Brilliant! I think you can tell the ones that truly want to be left alone and the ones that just need a little good cheer 😁
17 years? Meh
Tomorrow - take him a cup of coffee. Maybe he needs a friend (Not that you should have to! But if you want to try to thaw him some more…or just take the win as it is)
Yeah!
Crush the spirit of that old bastard! QUEEN
🤣
I dub thee "The Kindest Karen."
You did good
Watch out! He's up to something.
👍🎉💫🎶
You both won.
Never say hello again. Retire with victory.
I think I’m going to push my luck and say “how are you?” to see if he responds or it was just an accident last time 😂
I need details....will it be an add on? Like smile, wave, "good morning, how are you?" Or just "how are you" straight off? Will this phase continue until you break him further or just once for science?
I think a smile, good morning, how are you. I think the first one was just a lapse on his part but who knows, maybe he’s going to be un-grumped from now on!
I love it and can't wait for the update!
Our family motto is literally "be kind, take no shit", I work in a profession where I try to treat people with kindness and dignity daily. All that being said, some people are just cruel and they deserve the isolation they've earned. Good on you though for not letting the worst of us change your ❤️.
Absolutely, that’s how I think too ♥️
Drop off a plate of cookies and he will smile every time. Good job!
And so did he. Kudos on your persistence!!
🤗 Yes, it's amazing what Time does for and to someone.🩷💙
Love it!!!
That was a long fought war!
It was 🤣
To the victor, the spoils. 🏆🏅💐🧸🍾
He finally got hearing aids.
🤣
It would make me wonder what he is up to.
I celebrate your victory here! Congratulations to you and to your grumpy areshole neighbor for finally seeing the light of kindness!
Thank you!
Maybe he wasn't wearing his glasses and thought you were someone else, and now he's feeling stupid and kicking himself for 'appearing' nice. Bet he'll double down tomorrow 🤔😜
I kind of hope so, order will be restored 🤣
Maybe turning the corner, is how he won too?
Everyone won. Good job
he wants something
It was a big creepy but I think that’s just because I was so startled. Maybe he thinks he won…
Sometimes just a “little” patience is all one needs!
God, why can't you just leave him alone? He doesn't have to acede to your expectations.
Wow. You know you could have left this post alone if it wasn’t for you. This man is deeply unpleasant, more than I will go into here. All I have done is greet him cheerily in the morning.
And you are a bully.
I know you have read this one thing and made a quick judgement, we’ve all done it, but you couldn’t be more wrong on this occasion. I wish you a good day 😊
Bullying would be closer to the reason we have called the police about this man’s behaviour. As I said, it’s more than I will go into on social media but he is deeply unpleasant.
How so? Is it bullying to wish my neighbour a good morning?
Lizzie is your neighbour's sock puppet account.
That’s a great story.
Who would play him in the movie?
Jack Nickelson
He was among my guesses. 😂
Well done, oh very well done!
You did win. Sometimes insecure people see happy, kind people as weak. Never confuse my kindness with weakness! Good for you.
I have a neighbor who doesn't speak to anyone in the complex where we live. Every time I saw her I would say hello or good morning. After 11 years she just started having a conversation and says hello to me. Never give up on them.
That time didn't take anything away from you.✨️👍
Exactly, I was always jolly 😁
You are better than me. I would have told him to fck off.
Persistence pays off. I love your commitment to this.
Actually, sounds like he won. My humble opinion 🤓
Maybe it wasn't you or women. Perhaps he was constipated for 17 years.
🤣
Kill ‘em with kindness.. kudos to you
That’s some serious perseverance. Good for you. 👏
I did not expect so many people to like this!
We all need happy endings.
Persistence, brings victory
It does. I was mightily pleased with myself 😄
If your story was a novel, he probably looks forward to your greeting every day and when he dies, he’s gonna leave you his secret millions 😜
Ha ha! That would be wonderful but he hates me 🤣 It’s the only reason that I’ve enjoyed being so cheery to him for so long 🤣
I guarantee, you were the only person to smile and treat him with kindness in all those years. He will never forget you.