Taken out of context

Williamson Sr. High is a considerably small school (approximately 400 students) so I know almost all of the students that I pass every morning on my way to my locker. A lot of them are friends and teachers and we exchange a nice, casual greeting.

“Morning”

 Umm. . .yes it is morning. What an accurate observation.

Why is it that all of us can’t seem to add a little lone syllable to make our amiable greetings that much more proper and meaningful?

People only really greet individuals that they are close friends or acquaintances with. Are they not worth the time to utter this forsaken word?

“Good Morning!”

Just saying “morning” leaves open possibilities of what kind of morning they are wishing you. Your teacher or bus driver or friend or co-worker could be wishing you a horrible morning.

“Lousy Morning, Catherine!” Oh the uncertainty.

But really, why don’t teenagers and young adults see the importance of full heartfelt greetings? Greetings are supposed to brighten our days, so can we ask ourselves if the simple utterance of a bland noun can really have the same effect?  With the rise of this technological age comes a mass use of cell-phones for communication, especially among young people. The text message fosters short abbreviations or sayings that can get one’s point across in 20 quick and convenient characters. The meaningful phrase “I love you” can be shortened down to three letters: “ily” – doesn’t quite have the same effect, does it? The majority of teenagers text with this new language, so we often don’t see how meaningless it becomes out in the real conversational world. This abbreviated dialect negatively impacts teenager’s communication skills. They become a different species marked by their technological isolation and foreign tongue. “Morning! Ily bff!”

10+ years of language arts education, ladies and gentlemen.

It’s pure laziness. “Morning” gets our point across so why waste our breath saying any more? But think about how much better it feels to hear “Good morning” rather than just “morning”. Especially in this age where empty greetings are commonplace, it gives our day a little lift to know that someone took the time to say, “good morning”. That’s the point of a greeting. To let the greeted person know that you truly hope that they are having a good morning.

This idea isn't limited to morning greetings. It can also apply to “good evening” and “good night” as well. Language was created to accurately depict our emotions so shouldn't the friendly wish that an acquaintance will have a delightful evening be properly displayed with this word? One little word. Good. “Good morning!” “Good evening!” “Goodnight!” This small statement will transform your greeting from an observation of the time of day, to a purposeful gesture that sets you apart in a world of empty salutations.