How Are You?
I live on a street that gets a lot of foot traffic from people trying to sell you things. So much so that I ignore the doorbell most of the time unless I'm expecting a package of some cute sh*t I bought for Winnie on Etsy. For some reason, I was quick to answer the door yesterday, and I found myself face-to-face with a young man who reminded me a lot of someone that I used to know. Someone who annoyed and frustrated me to no end, whose infuriating charm got him out of pickles time and time again, and who convinced me to forgive him just so we could play his maddening game all over again (some of you may know my very good friend, Ian Robinson). I peeked at the solicitor through my window and decided to hear him out.
The young man at the door was named Lucas, and he was from Amnesty International. As I opened the door, he introduced himself and asked, How are you? I told him I was good and asked, How are you? A moment of bewilderment flashed on his face and he replied, "You know, people don't usually ask how I am."
We went on to have a long chat about Amnesty International and politics, and I ended up agreeing to donate to his organization because a bright, young man stood in front of me who was SO INSPIRED to help other people. This was a guy after my own heart, so ultimately, I could not tell him no. He literally jumped for joy when I agreed to donate, and then we took a selfie. I gave him some cold water, and he went on his way. It was such a nice little interaction with a stranger, and I'm honestly so glad I opened the door.
In my work as a speech-language pathologist, I screen about 75 second grade students for speech articulation every year. I have a pretty structured approach and always begin each screening by saying hello and asking How are you? The reason why Lucas' response to the question of How are you? tugged at my heart strings so much was because I have had his experience too.
In the last year that I screened the second graders at my elementary school, only two of those 75 kids knew to ask (or seemingly cared to know) how I was too. It was, honestly, so shocking when a kid asked How are you? for the first time that I decided to keep track of how many others might ask as well. There was only one more.
I connected with Lucas, not simply by asking, How are you?, but also by listening to and caring about how he responded. I think we all need to be more honest when we answer this question, as well. In the week following the passing of my dog, Piper, many people asked How are you? And I responded with a knee-jerk I'm good even though I was legitimately mourning the loss of my constant companion of 15 years. I was not good! I'm still not good.
So, I want to challenge you to some things:
1) If someone asks How are you? Ask it back.
2) Observe your children. Do they ask How are you? If not, teach them. Show them that it is both kind and socially responsible to inquire about the well-being of others.
3) Don't assume that everyone is good. Everyone is not good.
4) Are you feeling sad because your dog died? Be honest about how you're feeling. Give people a chance to show you that the world is a caring place.
By showing we care, especially about strangers, we begin to feel a part of something larger than ourselves. We.are.all.in.this.together.
So, how are you?
Tell me in the comments below👇
The young man at the door was named Lucas, and he was from Amnesty International. As I opened the door, he introduced himself and asked, How are you? I told him I was good and asked, How are you? A moment of bewilderment flashed on his face and he replied, "You know, people don't usually ask how I am."
We went on to have a long chat about Amnesty International and politics, and I ended up agreeing to donate to his organization because a bright, young man stood in front of me who was SO INSPIRED to help other people. This was a guy after my own heart, so ultimately, I could not tell him no. He literally jumped for joy when I agreed to donate, and then we took a selfie. I gave him some cold water, and he went on his way. It was such a nice little interaction with a stranger, and I'm honestly so glad I opened the door.
In my work as a speech-language pathologist, I screen about 75 second grade students for speech articulation every year. I have a pretty structured approach and always begin each screening by saying hello and asking How are you? The reason why Lucas' response to the question of How are you? tugged at my heart strings so much was because I have had his experience too.
In the last year that I screened the second graders at my elementary school, only two of those 75 kids knew to ask (or seemingly cared to know) how I was too. It was, honestly, so shocking when a kid asked How are you? for the first time that I decided to keep track of how many others might ask as well. There was only one more.
I connected with Lucas, not simply by asking, How are you?, but also by listening to and caring about how he responded. I think we all need to be more honest when we answer this question, as well. In the week following the passing of my dog, Piper, many people asked How are you? And I responded with a knee-jerk I'm good even though I was legitimately mourning the loss of my constant companion of 15 years. I was not good! I'm still not good.
So, I want to challenge you to some things:
1) If someone asks How are you? Ask it back.
2) Observe your children. Do they ask How are you? If not, teach them. Show them that it is both kind and socially responsible to inquire about the well-being of others.
3) Don't assume that everyone is good. Everyone is not good.
4) Are you feeling sad because your dog died? Be honest about how you're feeling. Give people a chance to show you that the world is a caring place.
By showing we care, especially about strangers, we begin to feel a part of something larger than ourselves. We.are.all.in.this.together.
So, how are you?
Tell me in the comments below👇
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