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Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock, actually borrowed this gesture from a Jewish blessing he remembered from his childhood, thus combining the cosmos with religious tradition. When I was a little girl, I walked around with my fingers arranged in this way because I was a Star Trek nerd.

The okay sign is one everybody knows—make a circle with your thumb and index finger, keep the other three fingers up. It means everything’s fine, A-OK, good to go. Though in these days of the internet and social media, you’ve got to be careful where you flash this one because there are some alarming alternate meanings.

Over in Texas, some of my husband’s biological family members flash the “Hook ’em Horns” sign— index and pinky out, middle and ring fingers tucked with your thumb like the horns of Longhorns. It’s known around the world as the symbol for University of Texas pride.

Then there’s the classic thumbs- up— everything seems to be going well. Flip that thumb sideways, stick it out toward the road, and you’ve got the hitchhiker’s signal, though you don’t see that as much these days.

Now, the middle finger— giving the bird, flipping someone off. We were not allowed to make this symbol when I was growing up. Mom said it was vulgar, and she was right. Still is! But we’ve all seen it, especially when we are driving.

And finally, the wave— the simplest of them all. Open your hand, move it side to side, and you’ve said hello or goodbye without uttering a word.

It’s funny how much we can say without saying anything at all. In a world that can feel so divided, these simple gestures remind us that we’re all trying to say the same things: I’m here. You’re here. And we’re going to be okay.