The Value of A Handshake

              The recent outbreak of the flu has caused us to change our behavior. We are being discouraged from shaking hands for fear of spreading the illness. And if we do shake hands, the use of a hand sanitizer is strongly encouraged. This comes at a time of the year when shaking hands is part of the ritual at graduations and other events across the country. We watch as the world leaders and dignitaries shake hands to illustrate peace and good will among their nations. How many international conflicts have ended on the power of a handshake?

          But perhaps shaking hands is losing some of its true meaning. A handshake used to be as solid as a man or woman’s word. I remember moving to Maine and purchasing our first home. It was a private sale with no real estate agent involved. At the conclusion of the discussion my wife and I offered to have an attorney draw up a sales agreement. Being from away, that’s the way things were done.  The owner seemed somewhat offended by our offer and suggested we ‘shake on it’, our handshake being as binding as any piece of paper. “That’s the way my grandfather and father had done things and if it was good enough for them, it was good enough for me”, he said.  My handshake as strong as my word. What a novel concept.

          Shortly after purchasing the home, we began looking for a vehicle, something that would be more efficient in the Maine winter. We found one and much to our surprise the transaction was very similar to that of purchasing the home. With a simple handshake, the deal was done. No paperwork, just our word that we would return shortly with the money and the car would be ready to go.

          When you stop to think about the handshake, there are actually two parts to it. The first is the physical contact of grasping the hand. But the second part is the eye contact. The handshake has little or no meaning without the eye contact. We have often heard the expression that the eyes are the window to the soul. How many times have we shaken a person’s hand and looked to the ground or up the sky. The eyes often serve as a true reflection of the sincerity of the handshake and without the eye contact one might question the honesty of it at all.

          I know that over the years I have been part of hundreds of handshakes but probably none more important than the one involving the purchase of the home. It was my first real welcome to Maine and a lesson to a different way of doing business. The flu will pass and we will soon be able to return to the time honored tradition of shaking hands with less fear of spreading the illness, because if we don’t, perhaps we will be spreading a totally new kind of disease.