How Are You? The Survey Says...
Spoiler alert! I’m sharing content from a post on Storied Gifts Shop, but the information applies here, too. Read on.
Life is in the little moments so it’s great when they offer up pleasant surprises. Here’s one that caught my attention.
It all started with my daily walks. I’ve been walking each morning in recent months and have been delighted by the interactions with those I meet along the way.
As I stroll briskly up and down neighboring streets for almost 90 minutes each day, I find myself enjoying regular encounters with others as we say “hello” in passing. But what I found interesting is that some people offer more than the “hello.” They ask, “How are you?”
OK, maybe that alone isn’t interesting. What I realized after, however, really got me thinking. My habit had been to say, “Hello,” then reply, “I’m fine” and “thank you,” and move on. But as I thought about it, I realized I’m not reciprocating the courtesy. When you’re given the gift of the inquiry it’s polite to respond and then give it back!
So, more often these days I return with the same question. What I’ve discovered is that most of the time, when asked “how are you,” people stop and consider. In fact, they frequently exhibit pleasure in being asked.
And yet, we usually think of “how are you” as a throwaway remark. But the question is quite powerful if you take a minute to give it some thought. how are you?
When was the last time you seriously assessed how you are?
Of course, you won’t likely provide a stranger with an in-depth response, but if you give yourself the courtesy to look at a given moment of time through this lens, maybe you can spot something interesting.
Once I realized the impact of asking strangers how they are, I decided to make it a practice for myself and for others more often. That means extending the question to those closer to me as well.
So, to you, I ask: how are you?
You’d do us a great favor to let us know your opinions and “how you are” through this brief, four-question survey. It simultaneously gives you a moment to breathe and offers me more insights in what kinds of ideas, content, and products to provide you.
Your feedback and time are valuable, so I’ll sweeten the ask by entering your name for a drawing to win a $25 gift certificate.
The Storied Gifts Survey will be open from the time of this posting and end at midnight on Tuesday, September 28. Thanks much in advance for letting us know what you think!
If you are depressed, you are living in the past, if you are anxious, you are living in the future, if you are at peace, you are living in the present. Tao Tzu
Postscript: When things seem out of control like it feels these days, acting where we have control is a comfort. Cleaning up your stuff is within your power! If you need help getting going on organizing your home check out Get Organized Gal’s courses for support.
I used her course to organize my office, and it is in pretty good shape these days. Success in one space has lead to cleaning channels to other rooms and photos as well. Check out he courses here.
Sherry and Alexandra Borzo together in Lima, Peru
Sherry is the founder of Storied Gifts a personal publishing service of family and company histories. She and her team help clients curate and craft their stories into books. When not writing or interviewing, Sherry spends loads of time with her grandchildren and lives in Des Moines, Iowa.
STORIED GIFTS SHOP
Need a beautiful infusion of inspiration for your storied life? Please check out the Storied Gifts Shop where the theme is Words of Encouragement.
The shop is a mother and daughter venture for Sherry and Alexandra Borzo of Content In Motion. They both work to help their client's stories sing. The shop is their effort to inspire a focus on healthy minds for everyone through positive thought.
LET’S BE FRIENDS
Please like the Storied Gifts Facebook page. We offer tips and inspirations to help you tell your stories and live a storied life by harnessing your healthy mind through the power of the thoughts you choose.