“How are you?” Three very simple words that roll off our lips so easily….and on autopilot sometimes. After all, it’s human nature and natural to say, “How are you?” when you meet someone on the street, or in the post office, talking on the phone, etc. It becomes so autopilot to me sometimes, I admit, because I know there are times when I find the conversation going as such:
Me: Hi, how are you?
Them: Good. How are you?
Me: Good. How are you?
Did you catch what I said? I asked them twice how they were?! LOL Does that ever happen to you??
Anyway, I remember reading somewhere a long time ago about these three simple words and saying them on autopilot. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great, friendly thing to do…..BUT….how often do you find yourself listening to what their true answer really is? A few minutes later, do you even remember how they responded? We get so caught up in the “mission we are on,” the errands we are running, on and on…that it is so easy to just stay on autopilot and keep going without taking the time to even listen to the reply.
I also remember reading in this article it said that if you are in one of those situations where you really don’t want to hear the answer….due to maybe that person being someone you know is just going to go on and on about their ailments, or they are just going to complain about something, or you honestly do not have the time to get into a 5 minute conversation or longer, then just simply train yourself to say “Hi” and keep moving on. But, if you are genuinely sincere about asking them how they are and truly want to know their answer, then say, “How are you?” It’s actually pretty simple when you think about it.
I have been trying to use those techniques for the last few years and they honestly do work. I hope to be remembered as one of those people that truly cares what the reply is. I’m not always in tune with it, after all, we are all human and none of us are perfect. {So please do not be offended if the next time I see you, or if someone else crosses your path, that we don’t say, “How are you?” LOL Do not take it personally!!! Life happens 
}
My main point of this post, is just to remind you and myself, that one day you might run into someone who really needs to be asked those simple words….and that person may really need you to be listening to their answer. You might just be their “how are you angel” for the day….and someday, it might be you who needs the angel.
And on that note…I leave you with this quote…
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Maya Angelou
~just me and that’s enough~jodi~
