You can tell when the “have a nice day” is scripted. The airline “buh-bye.” Or, “Is there anything else I can help you with today?”

Sometimes our replies feel scripted, too.

Let’s make a conscious choice to be off script.

Let’s choose to be intentional.

As you part ways with someone, if you were tasked with saying something brief, but meaningful, would it be, “Have a nice day?”

Probably not. Not using those words, at least.

* * *

“Say it like you mean it” is an instruction parents sometimes give to young siblings who are compelled to apologize to each other.

But really, if we mean it, we’re more likely to say (whatever we’re going to say) with heart and conviction.

So let’s abandon the script, and say what we genuinely intend to express.