How strange it is that we in our society feel that we must be chipper and happy people who love life all the time..at least for everyone else. Even on the most awful of days, when someone greets you with inquiry of how life is, we most always say "fine" or "good" or even "great". When some one asks how you are, if you honestly responded with a "life sucks" or an "I'm actually terrible at the moment" people don't know how to respond. They awkwardly pause a moment before apologizing to you..probably for not having anything to say or for expecting the common response of "I'm good". So either we are too guarded or we don't genuinely care enough about those around us. So.. when we ask someone how they are doing..are we really wondering how they are? Or has that greeting become an empty phrase? A filler?.. just to start a conversation..a substitute for hello...making a hard truthful answer hard to hear, because we weren't actually asking..? Is this why we feel guarded when on the other side?..because we realize its just an empty phrase and the asker is really asking the ask-ee?..so there is no use in being honest. It's easier to just put on a smile and spit out a singularly syllable-d word...fine...good..great..
It's easier..until the weight of the fake smile becomes too much..and even the word "fine" is so bitter it makes a lump in your throat and nearly brings you to tears because you wish so badly to be fine..or even OK..but you're not either. And nobody will know.
Agreed. The saddest part is that when most people ask, they don't even really care to know the answer so when it's honest they wish you hadn't been... Sometimes I wish people were more connected. No man is an island, so let's not pretend to be. So, Katelin, how are you-- really? <3 and miss ya X a million
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