A Matter of Perspective

When you ask someone how they are doing, do you really mean it? When you answer someone back how you are doing, are you really telling the truth? — Brady Quinn

I never know what to say to people when they ask me how I’m doing? Do you have that problem, too? I can’t be the only one, can I?

What I mean is, do they really want to know how I’m doing or is it just them being polite?

Do I tell them “I’m fine” even if I am anything but fine?

Do I talk about my physical health or my mental health? Either one of those two topics can open up a whole discourse.

Do I say I just had my gall bladder removed and quite frankly hope it was worth it because of the “purging” that my body does every single time I eat is making me second guess the decision?

Do I say “Everything is peachy” and move on?

I don’t want to be known as a complainer but a lot of times I feel like I am a big, fat whiner.

If I don’t share something about my physical health will it affect my mental health? I don’t know.

If I do share something about my mental health will it affect my physical health?

If I don’t share anything will it really matter?

I am kind of joking here in case you weren’t sure. But this question has rattled my cage a time or two. (There is always an element of truth in jokes.)

I am not sure what got me thinking about this today but it does make me wonder if we should ask people how they are doing if we really don’t want to know.