I think the feeling of loneliness
creeps up and grabs us (from time to time) to make sure we don't settle for fluff. Loneliness, at least the kind I sometimes experience, is such a ruthless state... it will accept no counterfeit consolation. No hugs from a mannequin. Or fake laughter from a can. This grizzly beast strips me, not as a cruelty... but as a centering. This is the work of the tart and the terrible, to help us grow from a weeble-wobble, to a sure-footed person who can dance without consensus. |
The question "How are you?" is PROFOUND. But it has been watered-down to a synonym for "Hello." Forced or fake auto-responses of obligated okay-ness are expected. (And if you are going through something tragic, it really doesn't matter! Every social encounter OPENS with this well-established Ritual of Insincerity.) The question "How are you?" prompts an answer that begins with "I AM _____________." This means many times each day, you are invited to SPEAK THE MOST POWERFUL STATEMENT that can be spoken of yourself. And the socially-expected thing to do, is be QUICK + SLICK with your answer. For a change... TAKE YOUR TIME, and tell your truth. ✍🏾 |