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| Do I see a gorgeous colourful sky? Or the grill? Or the concrete at the edges? Or just everything as it is? |
When someone asks us "How are you?", how many of us answer the question honestly? Do we really say how we feel, or the spontaneous answer is "I am fine/good/great..." ?
Why are we hesitant to speak our mind? Is it because we feel that the person asking really doesn't care? Is the question just an ice breaker? Is it just a formality question? Are we apprehensive that the person won't understand if we share what we are really feeling?
When we ask this question to others, how do we react when the reply is fine/good/great? Do we just believe that the person is fine? Of course! Why not believe that the other person is fine? The grass is greener on the other side right? So the other person has to be fine!
Now, let me ask this - how many of us know that the other person is not fine, when that person has said fine/good/great, but still let him/her be? Why bother to probe more, after all it is his/her life right? If he/she wants to share he/she will have to open up on her own.
It seems like a controversial topic, but in reality it can be very simple. If we care for someone and we know he/she is not doing great, can we try to help? How can we help? Sometimes by just listening, by being supportive in whatever way the situation demands. And why should we help? May be because that person is so full, that if we are able to carry the spillage for a little while, he may feel light and bounce back in no time.
I know the theory about how each one of us has to help ourselves. Yes, but let us also be open to the fact that sometimes we may need a slight nudge from others or that someone else may need to hear our cheering for that first kick.
Let us not label ourselves as weak, if we feel like asking help. Similarly, let us not judge anyone for asking help. And most importantly, let us try to be compassionate towards others and ask them "HOW ARE YOU?" and really mean it, and stretch out our hands!
