The first impression I try to provide to those who meet me, no matter if it’s the first or hundredth time, is that they are safe with me in all respects. They are safe to voice their opinions, concerns, troubles, anxiety drivers, etc, etc… I want them to feel as though I will not judge them for anything they’ve said or done in their past – or their skin color or culture. I’m in no position to cast judgement or throw stones and have no right to do so.
Long ago I learned about Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and the fact that it is not a static model. It will change to reflect our environment and how it influences our mental state. Because of that we must stay fluid with our external behaviors.
As you can see from above, safety, security, love, and belonging are all critical ingredients that must be met before we can flourish as individuals and by association, as a society. It is not mandatory for those needs to manifest through our immediate friends and family. It can originate from anyone willing to reach out and make a difference.
When you engage a stranger while out in the open world, it is impossible to tell where they are on Maslow’s pyramid. While it’s not our responsibility to find out, it is up to us to present the best version of ourselves to that individual -or at least be kind.
The words you choose could have an impact that ranges from meaningless small talk that burns time, to an insight that could change the course of their life… or even someone else’s.
Speaking from experience I can say that sometimes, the help/safety we need can only come from a stranger who is willing to lend a shoulder.
Some of my best mental health days have been experienced when the only thing I managed to accomplish was to help someone else have a better day.
Off The Rails 
You’ve put a lot of thought into this.
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The older I get, the more I begin to understand how each and every action I take can have a butterfly effect on the world around me. Change will never start from the top down. It’s not in their best interest. It has to come from those of us on the front lines and filter up through our united voice.
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The top down is utterly useless, shouldn’t expect anything. I agree we need a united voice.
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