When you come across another human being [literally hundreds of times a day!!!], you have two basic choices.
1] Give them something of value.
2] Not give them anything.
You can very easily choose option 1]. All you have to do is smile. That's all. Smile. You have given them something. I marvel at how often pass by people, even people I know, and nothing. Not a smile [even when I gave them one]. Not a kind word. Not a greeting. Just plain ol' nothing. Why? Why not connect in a positive way?? It is not because people are bad. It is for many varied reasons, one of the main ones being ignorant as to one's actual obligation as a contributing member of society to contribute as much as possible. Or being immersed in themselves. Or a combination. Or many other reasons. But you can escape that prison.
A smile. A kind word. A greeting. A dollar [if they are in that "business" - with a kind word of course]. SOMETHING.
Or you can go with option 2] and you, the other person and all of society will be all the poorer.
I often like to quote the Yesod of the Baalei Mussar that ALL OF YOSEF'S CATAPULT TO POWER started with a few simple words. He saw that his cellmates looked down and asked "מדוע פניכם רעים היום?" [b/c he knew how they normally looked - which was probably quite depressed as it was, given the circumstances. But this was worse]. They related their dreams and the rest was history.
