So seriously, how are you?

My friends at UNITE 2030 were recently talking about how casually we treat the above question. Generally, we use it as an ice breaker, call it niceties, but how many times do we sincerely mean it?

Only when you hear that I was sick and took a personal day off at work, you decide to take a genuine interest in my well-being. Know that I can still take a day off if I feel low – physical inability to work alone doesn’t determine if I should take a day off.

Why don’t we care anymore about our present – even if it is mundane and uneventful? You’d say we are busy with routine work. Why are we so disinterested and bored? Tell me we are exhausted after a long day at work and couldn’t find the time and energy to engage in a conversation. How are our texts now limited to reactions, emojis, and GIFs? Perhaps, you are at least trying to be there for me, even after a long tiring day at work.

And for all this, I am grateful. You offer to call me and talk about it, genuinely interested in my well-being. I answer your call, knowing that this call will divert into talking about others – about achieving things we don’t have and discussing those amazing Instagram stories some XYZ put up. So I hang up earlier than usual. The tension builds up day by day, and one day I break.

When I break, give me space. Do not expect me to answer your emails, texts, or calls. I know you are trying to help, being there for me – but the damage has already happened. Try and understand why I need space and time off from reality and respect it. Try to be sincere with your how-do-you-dos because you never know if there will be a second chance.

So before it is too late, how are you?