Do you notice how many times a day you ask or are asked, “how are you?” How do you answer? What answers do you hear most?
Good. Fine. Tired. Excited.
Why is asking such an important question “Phatic”? In linguistics, a phatic expression is communication which serves a social function, such as social pleasantries that don’t seek or offer information of intrinsic value but can signal willingness to observe conventional local expectations for politeness.
How many times do you hear answers or share answers like, “I’m strong and vulnerable” or “I’m scared and also really excited mixed in with a generous amount of overwhelm.”
When we ask you how you are, we really want to know, so please don’t feel obligated to answer with one word and move on. Now, maybe more than ever, we feel that it’s important for us to connect with one another and find out how each other is managing … especially a year into the world being shaken up and flipped upside down. Also, we can really help each other when we answer with what is true. Being real is one of the best ways we can nurture connection with one another … to often find pain points or joy to share, to offer safe space and solutions.
How are we? We have our highs and our lows and everything in between, sometimes even all at once … all with ebbs and flows. We find ourselves immensely grateful as a foundation and also for all of you that share your “realness” with us … it is fuel for our work, our minds, and our souls. You help us do better.
How are you? Can we help you do better? Feel better?
At the end of this month, we are sharing just a few links that might just change your answer from a Phatic, “fine, how are you” to a real and inspired answer.
