🎙️ Weekly Insight #54 -Re-Entry and the Power of Hello
La rentrée begins with a simple hello
What your breath and tone reveal in a single word.
A “hello” seems simple. One word, often tossed out without thought. But if you pay attention, that first moment tells you a lot about your voice.
In France, late August and early September carry a special name: la rentrée — the “re-entry.” It’s the season when people return from summer travels to school, work, and community life. There’s an energy to it, a feeling of fresh beginnings.
We all have our own version of la rentrée. It’s that moment of re-entry, when you step back into meetings, classrooms, or gatherings. And the first thing you offer in those moments is often a simple “hello.”
Think about the last few times you greeted someone:
- On the phone
- Passing a neighbor
- Walking into a meeting
- Tired at the end of the day
- Energized at the beginning of one
Each of those “hellos” probably sounded different. Breath, energy, resonance, and connection all shifted with the situation.
I remember learning this lesson firsthand when I first lived in France. One morning, on my way to an audition, I was pressed for time and rushing to find a metro stop. I stopped a street cleaner and blurted out, “Pouvez-vous m’aider?” — “Can you help me?” My voice was hurried, my mind already ahead of the moment. The person smiled, paused, and simply replied, “Bonjour.” In that instant I realized I had skipped the essential first step. In France, whether you’re asking directions or ordering at a pâtisserie, the greeting comes first. And what that bonjour allows is a moment to breathe and ground yourself before you launch into your request. But it also does something more: the intention behind that greeting changes the whole interaction. The exchange begins with recognition, not demand, and it takes on a different quality.
What I learned in that moment stayed with me. I began to notice how a greeting could set the entire tone of an interaction. There was a bakery I often visited in the 9th arrondissement where this was especially clear. The woman behind the counter would say “Bonjour” with such warmth and musicality that it lingered with me as I sipped my coffee and ate my favorite pastry, a chausson aux pommes. That small word carried more than politeness — it carried welcome, connection, and even joy.
A quick reflection exercise
The next time you say hello, pause for a half-second before speaking.
Notice the breath you take — shallow, lifted in the chest, or grounded lower in the body.
Feel the vibration in your sound. Did it carry forward with steadiness, or did it fade quickly?
Pay attention to resonance — where in your body do you feel it, and how is it supported?
Watch how the other person responds. Did your “hello” draw their attention, or did it pass by unnoticed?
No need to change anything yet. Just notice. Awareness is the first step.
Why it matters
“Even in small matters, it is no small thing.” — Epictetus
A single word like “hello” may seem trivial, but it’s a doorway into noticing breath, resonance, and energy.
“Do not explain your philosophy. Embody it.” — Epictetus
Awareness alone can change the way you sound. But awareness combined with regular, intentional practice can transform how you use your voice day after day.
This is something my teacher Margaret Harshaw often emphasized. She suggested that short, focused sessions often build more than long, drawn-out practice. She described a 12-minute practice regimen — not a rule, but a possible framework. One session might be used in the morning to set your body up for the day, and another later to focus on a specific area.
That’s where we’ll go next week: how a short daily reset can give your voice the same steadiness you just noticed in something as simple as “hello.”
Your “hello” is small, but it isn’t insignificant. It’s often the first sound someone hears from you. Becoming aware of it is a simple way to bring more steadiness into your everyday voice— and a reminder that awareness always begins in the smallest, most ordinary moments.
Further Reading
If you’d like to explore related posts from earlier in this series:
Weekly Voice Insight #14 – Your Voice as Your Calling Card
Weekly Voice Insight #25 – The Listener’s Perspective: Hearing Yourself Objectively
Weekly Voice Insight #40 – Small Practices, Big Shifts — Building Vocal Presence in Daily Life
Elias Mokole Keynote Speaker, BA & Beyond 2025 | Voice Presence & Change Founder, Developing Your Authentic Voice Newsletter.
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