In our society we have become all too accustomed to answering the question, "how are you?" with a curt "fine" or "good", when inside we may not be so fine or good. Maybe the question should actually be, "how are you, really?" Or are we merely asking as a small talk opener? I decided to make an open forum with the specific purpose of allowing people to say how they really are...how they really feel.
Please feel free to post a response anonymously.
So, how are you, really?
36 comments to How are you, really?:
I feel waves of general well-being, tinged with little bursts of melancholia. I sleep too much, but I enjoy doing so. I drink too much, but likewise. I'm lonely, but not enough to seek companionship. I'm excited about the future but slightly bored with the present.
I'm trying to become healthier. Physically, mentally. Can't seem to grasp once and for all that it's a constant thing. I'm not going to attain a state which allows me to safely backslide without fear of ruining whatever improvements my hard work yielded. Must constantly keep in mind that I'm a work in progress.
Well, This is a great question first of all. Most of the time we or I tend to think of what is going on in my life when asked how are you ?
I think alot of people would agree with me, reason is we live in a fast pace world for starters.
At my age now, I do tell anyone that does ask me how are you ?, I will say one of two things 1. doing ok so far, or 2. I have had better days.
Life happens in an instant, so by saying either of those, I am covered.
Never been better. My life is filled with bliss and promise. I am happy, healthy, busy and secure. My worries are those of "what if"s, all the things that *could* go wrong, nothing that I can put my hands on. I'm making exciting plans and enjoying every day.
i'm homicidal and a little suicidal. thanks for asking. no really.
ps. don't tell the cops.
This has really been a golden time in my life. I have finally made some life accomplishments that were well overdue. Things are finally coming together, and I realize it could have been this great years ago if I had not been the king of self-sabotage. Employment is the main obstacle left to complete this version of a complete man. Fingers crossed, it will happen soon.
I'm ok, but a little lost. Seems like others have it together while I'm just flailing about. Plus I worry about being left alone.
i'm hungry.
i'm mentally tired and so sick of my daily mundane occurences. i have to step back and remember that life's not so bad and i have amazing friends, a steady income, and the luxury of being able to speak for myself and make my own decisions.
i forget that alot. ALOT.
i don't like "naggy" or "complainy" but i feel as though having a mentally un-fulfilling job is giving me the Al Bundy syndrome.
i just want to be aware of the pleasantries around me and focus on those instead of the negatives.
how do you do that?
I feel hopeful and optimistic about the near future. I feel empowered to create my own successes. However, with that always lurks the little twinge of self-doubt that I try to keep hidden in behind my ear. Although it's a nuisance, I appreciate it being there because it keeps me humble.
I'm also on a cleanse so I'm really craving everything I'm not supposed to have.
I'm 36, divorced, and blessed with a medical condition that'll probably do me in before I make it to 50. I'm tens of thousands of dollars in debt from the awful medical coverage my three HMOs are all refusing to cover and I'm living off student loans so I can become a high school history teacher so I can do something useful with what time I have left.
I don't feel like my endeavor is supported by the government, or by any part of the "system", which seems geared to keeping me enslaved to something I wanted to do as a choice.
How are you?
I am love. This should be my only answer.
I wrestle with this idea every day when fear creeps into my world and "fine" becomes the norm. But every moment, every breath is a new opportunity to be the love and peace I want in my life. Really.
I am a grown up child tending to others as if they are children. Some are sick some are old some are small some are four legged. I sleep very little, I eat too many bad things. I cry when no one is looking. I myself am not who I want to be but see hope in the fact there is still time for other dreams and wishes for me and those I love. I think of running away on a daily basis until it gets dark outside. I am young and old, reflective of the past and how I would do it all different should I have the chance. I am needed but do not feel loved. However compared to those fighting for their life due to disease or accidents my crap seems small and unimportant. So, I am doing fine in my own world. Thank you for asking.
I feel hopeful. But afraid that this hopefulness is truly a "grass is always greener" syndrome. I have been told many times in my life that I am never satisfied with what I have and that, if I were to look around, I would be able to find a contented state of mind. I fear I will never find contentment, even though there are glaring moments of pure happiness in most days. I recognize these moments, but instantly think about how they will dissolve and how I will need to focus my energy on making sure that there will be more to come. I fear emptiness. I can see all the things I want and am trying, every day, to not miss the things that I already have. And, I'm exhausted by my inability to NOT internalize and think about everything so god damned much.
I am lost. I have had a very difficult year. I found myself doing things that I never thought I would do. I am disappointed in myself. My heart is broken. I feel humiliated and betrayed while and at the same time I've committed my own betrayals and humiliations. Life is hard right now. I am constantly reminding myself that it could be much worse while simultaneously trying not to fall into a pool of self pity and despair. I am broken down. I don't like myself. I don't know if I've ever been truly happy, and I'm starting to realize that I'm the only person holding me back from the good I could be feeling. It's difficult facing the fact that where I am is all due to the choices that I made. I got myself here. And I am the only one who can get me out.
I'm actually doing really well, which is a definite change of pace. After the avalanche of crumminess earlier this year, I've stumbled into a situation where things are unexpectedly awesome. A big part of me is waiting for the other shoe to drop and squash this goodness that's come along, but until that happens, I'm reveling in it. I'm kind of trying to adjust to the notion that it's okay for good things to happen.
When driving down a mountain, sometimes signs will warn to take a turn at a particular speed. The signs, unlike many unsuspecting drivers, are aware of the evil that lurks just beyond the guardrail. If the signs are ignored, a driver has up to 10 mph over the sign's limit before that evil will suck them over the edge into oblivion. Top heavy vehicles have less wiggle room.
I feel like I am in the middle of a sharp turn, in a comfortable car, with a good song playing, flirting with forces trying to suck me over the guardrail into the mountain.
I am confused. All of the time. With new life and job offers on the horizon I have had to realize that I have no idea if what I am doing will ever make me happy. I have always felt like I was searching for true contentment, but I never can get my hands on it. I don't really enjoy doing anything, honestly. But "career" is not hanging out drinking beers and smoking cigarettes with your friends and significant other. I love all of my companions, but true comfort and ease in lifestyle and state of mind always seem just around the corner.
I am fearful about my future, despite having a seemingly idyllic existence. I am currently unable to handle any emotional pain without using negative coping mechanisms; and I have a lot of emotional pain. I have bouts of extreme sadness mixed with moments of shallow happiness and laughter. I fear that people will find out things about my personal life; if this happens, I am fairly certain I will lose quite a few loved ones.
Currently, I feel like shit. My relationship is a wreck because my partner has decided to play with his meds again. He suffers from depression. Had a very volatile fight last week, needing police intervention and my youngest was smack dab in the middle of it.
I don't know what to do. I'm feeling very lost. But, my partner doesn't get it. He thinks things should go back to normal like nothing ever happened.
I feel the need to have to protect my kids. I don't know how much longer I can hold on to this relationship. I'm really wanting to give up.
I'm trying to be hopeful about the future, looking at all options. It's just trying to figure out which way to go.
I love him very much but I'm so pissed at him right now. How can he keep doing this to us? I need peace.
I feel as though I am surrounded by a thick dark cloud of suppression that is binding my spirit. Once in a while anger from the injustice done to my physical being will cause blinding bursts of lightning to sizzle around me as the demons of the dark continue to gnaw at my tormented soul. And yet the brillance of my sweet smile fools all, including my own mother so that no one knows of the agonizing pain that swirls through my heart and soul.
I'm allright, although I feel overwhelmed. I love my career, but I feel like I am not good enough, even though "good enough" is relative. I'm thrilled with my partner, but worry about being abandoned. I worry about things that may never happen, have dark thoughts, procrastinate. I've had to distance myself from my family due to their craziness, and although sad, feel better for it. I'm antsy in general.
Despite all this, I am happy. My health's pretty good. I love my friends, love what I do for a living. The future is so exciting I can hardly believe it. Even when in a gloomy mood, I feel immense joy in my heart every day.
I'm trying to hang on to any self-confidence. I feel like certain friends have abandoned me, though I wonder if it's because I stayed away so long because of a deep depression. I am so scared it could come back. But the prozac seems to be working for now.
I have betrayed a friend that betrayed me, but I didn't do it out of revenge, just loneliness. It's still going to bite me in the ass. I need to get so much done soon, to make some kind of impact on anything, to feel like I have any purpose. I need to take care of my body, I don't want to die young, but I'm definitely on that path. I really need to go to the doctor and dentist, but can't afford either. cough.
All in all I still enjoy life, I just miss having more people around to enjoy it with.
I keep answering the question "how are you" with 'great'. I feel hollow and lonely inside and in pain on the outside. I've left my property twice in the past three months and I crave human social interaction horribly. I take care of my child and pets and please my husband to the best of my ability but I feel trapped and wish I could interact with someone, anyone, everyone. The only adult I've seen or spoken to is too tired when he comes home to talk to me or listen to me talk. I talk to my animals but they cannot answer in the words that I crave. I talk to my son but he is only just learning the human dialect. I feel so fucking alone.
i'm ok, but I stink. i have body odor but i don't look like I have body odor. sometimes i worry people will get a whiff and be shocked at my 'essence.' it holds me back in social situations and i even wonder if i'm rotten inside and that's why I stink.
I'm really sad, hurt , jealous and lonely. My brain is currently trying to process so many different emotions, it makes my head hurt. I'm not well. I feel sick to my stomach often.I have so much tension in my neck, back and shoulders I can feel the marble sized knots. I'm so tired that I can't sleep. It baffles me really.l I want to scream at people who are close to me. I have been alienating myself from the people who I know care about me. I can't face their judgement. I can't really handle any slightly bad news,or I perceive it as bad news to me. I'm struggling with what it is that I need to be doing with my life. I'm not currently a fan of myself. I feel a great pressure to always be doing the right thing. I feel like I have been betrayed and abandoned. Most of all I'm mad as hell! Really , really angry. Maybe more so than I have been in quite some time. So angry it makes me cry.
that's how I am really. thanks for asking.
how are you, really?
I am keeping almost overwhelmingly busy...but that's OK for now. This is my first holiday season without my dad and my husband so I'm working at keeping my spirits up.
How am I really? I'm smiling alot, that's for sure. I think I'm currently experiencing a moment of true happiness in life. My parents are still alive and feisty and the rest of my family is doing relatively well. Some of my friends are raising beautiful children and I get to spoil them on their birthdays and holidays. Some of my other friends are involved in projects that make me step back, smile, and wrinkle my nose at their creativity and ingenuity. And as for me, I'm finally, FINALLY doing the work I have always wanted to do. I am making a difference in people's lives everyday in huge ways. I am excited to get up and go to work everyday and to meet new people and learn new things. It is a wonderful thing and was worth the effort to get here. Oh, and for the first time in years I have met someone who makes my heart leap whenever I see him. We have fun together, and we have real chemistry. It seems like this time... this might be the real thing.
So...the possibilities of life at this moment seem to stretch out in front of me into an infinite horizon.
That said, I know that this kind of happiness happens only for a moment. I know that my parents will eventually be gone, and trouble happens in both the professional and personal settings. But right now... I'm really happy and I'm going to hold onto this feeling for as long as possible. Life is beautiful and I see everyday is a gift.
In some ways, wellness is a relative thing. Today I feel well because I am not this person:
http://www.inquisitr.com/11452/worlds-most-senior-tattooed-woman/
I hope that also makes you feel better. Cheers.
I am tired of financial obligations in society dictating the demise or up-holdong of friends. Life is so much more than money and material items yet we spend our entire lives in the pursuit of monetary happiness.
I feel gassy.
im jealous of anyone in relationships and discourage all my friends from potential mates in hopes that everyone will be happy being alone with me. it wont be long before this group of friends moves on without me.
well, I'm ok. i've been better, i've been worse. i've had a summer of intense change on various levels (social, mental, physical, spiritual), and i'm wondering where all this is heading. For the past few years, i've worked harder than i ever have in my entire life and i've made less money than i ever had. i want to sell my business. i'm ready to let it go and see if another person can build on the foundation i laid. I have no energy for it anymore. I'm burned out. I've had a good time doing this, but my brain isn't wired to be a business owner. on a good side, i've carved out a place in the house where i can go, enjoy the quiet, and be in my thoughts. I'm excited to see what is around the corner for me and i'm ready to shed this exoskeleton and move into the next.
I am in a dark place most of the time, you would not really notice this from the outside, but I am. I am full of a lot of fear and hate and I just try to stay distracted and to not hate everyone so much. I feel very alone and the people the closest to me live light years away. Today has been good if you disregard all the nightmares, the sun is shining and the house is warm so I'm gonna get up and give it another try. Wish me luck.
I am doing good. I say that and I mean that I am doing good more times than I am doing bad or so-so. This year has been so difficult on me. I hate to see friends and family struggle and suffer with the economic difficulties that have been thrust upon them. The realization that I can't help them just eats at my entire being. I can completely understand how people develop emotional stress when they are left at a company after a lay off. It is a guilt feeling that cannot be washed away.
On the positive side, this year has shown me how special my friends really are. I don't say this lightly, I love all of you. You are more precious than anything in the world.
Here is to new times and new adventures in life!
I am on the edge of a precipice and hanging on by a single pinkie finger, but I know that that pinkie finger will hold until I can climb back out.
i want to say i'm on the verge of everything being great but that verge has been lasting years. i'm really frustrated with my inability to get my shit together. i'm jealous of my friends who appear to have their shit together. i feel ripped off that my entire life i've been told hard work pays off and yet i'm working my ass off to be abused and taken advantage of by people who don't. i'd like to live happily ever after.
My grandfather always answers this question with, "I'm still above ground."
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