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— I grew up in the sixties and seventies, when hippies held up their hands with palms turned outward and the first two fingers extended in a V-shape to signify the word, “peace.” Peace is a good thing. We need more of it in the world.

Blowing a kiss — We kiss our fingers and blow a puff of air across our open palms as a show of affection when we are too far away to give a person a real kiss. The other person understands we are “sending them some love.”

Pointing your middle finger upward while other fingers are folded down — Many of us have “given someone the finger” at some point in our lives. Also known as “flipping someone off,” it’s an offensive gesture usually performed in fury meaning, “Drop dead, you idiot.”

Raising your hand — We raise a hand when we have a question or want to say something when others are talking. We learn this in school and the gesture sticks with us throughout our entire lives.

Knocking on wood — We knock our knuckles on a piece of wood to bring good fortune or ward off bad luck. It’s a holdover gesture pulled from ancient superstitions.

Extending a thumb upward — We give something a “thumb’s up” to show our approval.

Extending a thumb downward — Conversely, if our thumb points down, it usually means we disapprove of something.

Winking — We blink one eye quickly to signify that we are teasing someone or as an act of flirtation.

Pressing two hands together, fingers upward — Also known as “praying hands,” we use this gesture to imply that we are praying about something, that we are asking for prayer, or that we are thankful. Smiling, shaking hands, slapping a friend’s hands up high (high fives), making a heart shape with our hands, even a child holding up five fingers to denote he or she is five years old — without uttering a single word, we communicate each day with the people in our lives using gestures and body language. How many body gestures did you use this week?