How Are You?

Don't Answer Too Quickly.

We live in challenging times. There is a weariness that seems to hang like a dark cloud over the minds and hearts of many people. I admit that at times this is true for me too. Words have power and I realized just how powerful they are when I was struck by the connection of my often spoken, casual words, to my mental and emotional state.

I have always loved humor and at one point I thought that I might become a comedian. That was not to be, but the love for humor stayed with me all my life. I am quick-witted and can easily find a word or phrase that can garner a laugh. When I was younger that skill manifested as a sharp wit and a cutting tongue. Some laughed and some were hurt. Older and wiser now my humor is gentler and often self-deprecating. Here is an example.

In polite society, when greeting someone it is common to ask, “How are you?” When I am asked this question, I have traditionally answered, “fair to partly cloudy.” That response would often prompt a smile and sometimes a chuckle. After the laugh, I would assure the questioner that “no that’s the weather I’m fine.” But maybe the damage was done. Maybe I was perpetually feeding that dark cloud over my mental and emotional state with the continued use of the words, “fair to partly cloudy.” Remember my opening premise, there is a weariness that seems to hang like a dark cloud over the minds and hearts of many people. If this is true and I believe it is, then my words just might affirm what others are feeling. My words not only affect me but others as well.

So, if my words can form storm clouds in my life, and in the lives of others, surely my words can dissolve those clouds and the inner states that blind us to our innate divinity. I needed a new response to the question, “how are you”. “I’m fine” would not be enough; those words simply do not have enough cloud dispelling power. Maybe more importantly, my casual words affect others too. So, here is my new response to the question, “how are you?” It’s gonna be a bright, bright sun-shiny day. That’s it; that’s my new truth. This response is not pollyannish; it is visionary. It is vision I hold not only for myself but for others too. I know that “into each life some rain must fall”. Hope for sunshine is far better than the dark clouds that blind us from our divinity. Beyond hope, the spiritual practices of active imagination, visionary thinking, and the power of positive, faith-filled spoken words need not be complicated or difficult to apply to our challenging times. Maybe just singing a little song is all we need.

“Keep a Song in Your Heart” was a recurring theme for The Lawrence Welk Show and was often used to close the show with a message of warmth and optimism. Taking the maestro’s advice, I choose this song written in 1972 by Johnny Nash. It sold over a million copies. I liked it then and in part it serves me now.

I can see clearly now, the rain is gone;

I can see all obstacles in my way.

Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind;

It’s gonna be a bright, bright, Sun-shiny day,

it’s gonna be a right, bright, bright, sun-shiny day.

Finally, I ask you, “How are you?”

Don’t answer too quicky.

What are you telling yourself and telling the world?