Keep Asking
I have a friend who likes to dance around the question, “How are you doing?”
Here are a few of his favorite responses:
“Things are going.”
This tells me nothing.
“Oh, you know! Same old, same old.”
Again, this tells me nothing.
“Couldn’t be better.”
Better than what?
“Busy.”
This is not an acceptable answer.
“Better than I deserve.”
Please elaborate.
“I was gonna ask you! How are you?”
Do not deflect.
I have the same problem he does.
Sometimes I don’t want to tell you how I’m doing.
Sometimes I don’t know how to put into words how I am doing.
Sometimes I give the cop out answer, “I’m just happy to be here.”
Maybe I’ve been asking the wrong question.
Maybe I should be asking, “How are you feeling?”
Or, “What’s new?”
Or, “What’s something you’re looking forward to?”
Or, maybe I don’t need to ask a question.
Maybe just being there with them is what they need.
Or maybe I just need to continue to show up and sit down and ask my friend how they are doing, because one day they might just need me to say, “Hey, how are you doing?”
Keep asking.
About the Author
Tanner Olson is an author, poet, speaker, and podcaster living in Nashville, Tennessee.
He is the author of I’m All Over the Place, As You Go, Walk A Little Slower, and Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.
You can find Tanner Olson’s books on Amazon.
His podcast is The Walk A Little Slower Podcast with Tanner Olson and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.
Tanner Olson travels around the country sharing poetry, telling stories, and delivering messages of hope.
You can follow Tanner Olson on Instagram (@writtentospeak) and Facebook where you’ll daily find encouraging words of faith and hope.
