I'm Fine.

"How are you?"

"I'm fine and you?"

"I'm fine. So . . . "

How may times do we have conversations that start exactly like this? I'd have to say I probably have a conversation start like this daily, if not multiple times daily.



How often is this the case?

I'd have to say this (points at picture =D ) probably also happens daily . . . How often are you going to tell the person you're talking to I feel awful? My life sucks!! The only time we actually deviate from the typical "I'm fine" response is when our life is absolutely phenomenal, which in that case you'd proceed to say, "I'm doing fantastic! I'm so glad you asked, and this is why I'm so happy" etc. etc.

Often times the person asking you how you are doesn't really care either . . . Sad to say, but how often does a cashier at the store ask how you're doing? Maybe a teacher? Maybe a friend? Maybe even a colleague? Hey, maybe they do genuinely care. Maybe they do want you to answer truthfully, but often times it's just a way to get the conversation rolling or just a way to be polite.

I once had my choir teacher ask the whole class how we were. She said something along the lines of, "So how are we today class?"

. . .

Am I the only one confused by that? Why would you ask such a general question like that when you'd get such varied responses from individuals. When you're asked a question like that you're supposed to act in the positive. Did she care how we felt? Probably not. Not until I said I was miserable. Why was I miserable? I have NO clue. But she didn't care until she heard, "Not very good" come out of my mouth. She then got this concerned look on her face (it was great!! hahaha) and she said, "Oh no!! What's wrong?" Like I said earlier, why was I miserable? No idea. So I just said "It's been one of those days." She said, "I had one of those yesterday." And moved on. Did she really care that I was upset? No. Or she would have delved deeper into my answer and asked "Well, what's made it one of those days?" How are you . . . such a stupid pointless question.

So . . . why do we ask the question? Why do we ask each other how we are? When we typically lie . . . ? Or don't care what the other person has to say? To tell you the truth I don't know. =) hahaha, what do you expect? I'm a teenage girl, I don't have the answers. My frontal lobe isn't completely developed. :) hahaha, or so my psychology teacher says.

This is a really short post . . . haha. But I honestly have nothing more to say. I don't know why we ask each other how we are. I don't know why we don't answer truthfully. I don't know.

What do you think? Have you ever had one of those experiences where you wonder why people just go through the ritual?