Being bipolar, sometimes it's difficult for me to simply answer the question, "How are you?" Because honestly, the answer can change A LOT frequently throughout a day. Obviously I'm working to be as "stable" as possible... and quite frequently I fully rely on that "fake it till you make it" strategy.
Most of the time (especially in the office) people don't really want or care to hear an honest answer or anything past "Good, You?" It's a stupid habit that even I've gotten into. I've tried to simply say hi when walking past someone unless I genuinely want to stop and talk to them and ask how they are (why don't we all do that, mmmkay?)
It's the "fake" part I'm having trouble with... on the days when I'm expected to say "fine" when I am so very far from fine it feels like venom dripping out of my lips to say the word... I want something else to say - something really witty that will take my mind off things and make the other person stop and smile. I like my comebacks slightly sarcastic but generally upbeat and positive (of course I can never think them up until too late).
A wonderfully fantastic friend of mine has these types of responses all the time - here are just a few:
- I'd complain but no one seems to listen.
- I'm not unwell, thank you.
- Glowing with a zest for life.
- If I were better I'd be twins, and that frightens most people. (my personal favorite)
- Why? How do I look?
I like them because they're original, funny and can be interpreted different ways depending on the inflection in your voice, your facial expressions when you say them... Not to mention when the person doesn't get the standard good/fine answer, it could even lead to an unexpectedly great conversation.
Do you have any good "how are you" responses?
Do you always lie if you're in a lousy mood and say 'fine'? Or if you're in a bad mood, do you have an amusing way to respond to the how are you question?
Please comment!
3 comments:
Jennifer said...
I like that glowing with a zest for life response. Too bad it's not true most of the time.
I totally agree that we use the "How are you" phrase as more of a standard greeting than an actual question we want an honest answer to. In general, I do try to answer honestly, even if it's not what the asker intended to hear.
I think after reading this, I'd like to come up with some clever and witty responses.
Nielle said...
Be sure to share when you think of them (unless you don't want em stolen :P )
Danielle said...
I like to answer "How are you" with one of these responses:
Peachy Keen Jelly Bean
Hanging in there, but barely.
Can't complain, wouldn't help if I did.
I tend to ask people "How's it shaking" instead. One woman I work with likes to respond with "Like Jello on a warm day."