How Are You?

“How are you?” This, I believe, is one of the most powerful questions of all time, in that it always elicits a response, a reaction. Some people get all defensive, wondering why this person is asking how he or she is, wondering if they know what’s really going on in his or her life, or wondering if they’re insinuating something. Some people let out a sigh without uttering a word, which already says everything. Some people don’t even want to go there and dismiss the question with an “I’m okay.”

But then there are also people who are waiting for someone to ask them. They’re just eager to share what they’re going through, good or bad. The truth is, we’ll never know how anyone would respond to those three little words until we actually ask them. So let’s dare ask them how they are. Let’s be sincere in reaching out to others. Let’s be ready to listen. Let’s be unafraid to open ourselves and try to connect with them, even though chances of rejection are huge. The occasional “Thank you so much for asking me” or “I really appreciate that you care” is so worth it. Worth it even in times that we only get a shrug or a sheepish smile, because little do we know that when we ask at the time we ask it, we are already making an impact in their life. 🙂