"How are you doing?"

"Fine Thank-you" is often my response. That or "I'm alive" which was my most popular turn of phrase when asked this question, right up until I caught myself saying it at my Pop's funeral... *bashful grin*

Why is it though that even in the most common day of questions, we very rarely tell the truth - or much less expect it when we ask it of someone else?

I know for some people it's not a question they're really asking, more something to start the conversation... I do it myself for goodness sake! But I also know those who REALLY ask, and how much this means. When they've earned the right to ask just through their genuine enquiry... that you don't feel the expectation to say what you think they want to hear - but because they sincerely care, and in light of that you're free to say "bloody awful!" or "bloomin' fantastic!" whatever the case may be.

As I write this I'm going over people in my head whom I often tell the truth to in this respect and who I don't... is there more to why I'm not honest to everyone? I don't trust everyone, and so I'm not going to load information that's personal on to people, but still, I think the request, whatever the forum/reason should be answered as honestly as possible, albeit phrased in an appropriate way. If I'm feeling like crap, then not say "great thanks", but "yeah - about that!" both are short and sharp and can lead on to other things easily, but at the same time one is honest and the other is not.

anyway - the random thoughts continue!