The bicyclist in front of me was a young guy, he was able to high five a lot of the kids and they cheered. As I was approaching the line I wondered, "Can I do this? Can I ride close enough and hold out my hand without losing balance? And not fall down and look like an idiot?"
I decided to try, I got close to the fence and held out my hand for as many of the kids as I could. There had to have been at least 75 of them, they were probably around 8 years-old, all with their palms out, all cheering and screaming as I slapped as many hands as I could.
I could feel my oxytocin and endorphin or whatever levels rising as I slapped their palms and then rode off happily, continuing my journey north, along the Hudson River.
There are studies about how people find happiness in a casual smile with a stranger, or a quick conversation in an elevator, or a doctor's waiting room.
Try high fiving a group of 75 kids. It made me feel like a rock star.
