In fact, this message reminded me of an experience I had one cloudy day a couple weeks ago. I was waiting for the shuttle bus that would take me to the St. George campus at the University of Toronto. I turned to the girl standing beside me, who I had never seen before, and made a generic comment about the dreary weather outside. The girl told me that her mood coincided with the weather — and she had felt depressed for several days, since it had been a cloudy week. I made another comment and the conversation went back and forth. When the bus arrived, we sat down together and the dialogue continued throughout the hour-long ride. Going our separate ways, I knew that I had brightened up the girl’s day and felt glad.

Communication is part of human nature. In fact, interacting with others through speech nourishes our souls. God calls each and every one of us to communicate with those around us, including our friends, family, classmates, colleagues and even complete strangers — the young and old, Catholic and non-Catholic.

As Catholics we are called to interact with others through our words and actions. In Romans 12:13, Paul tells us to “Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.”

We are called to touch the lives of those around us with our presence. In fact, we can make a positive difference in someone’s life by simple actions, such as greeting someone and holding the door open for a passerby.

Every day, let us try to perform a kind act. Let us take time out of our busy lives to communicate with others — whether it is through kind words, a smile or actions. So, the next time you are sitting beside a stranger on a bus or train, say something and who knows how much you will learn.

(Gagliano, 20, is a life sciences student at the University of Toronto.)