How are you?

It seems like such a simple question that would elicit a simple response of true emotions, where the one asking would genuinely wait and listen for any type of response. Listen to everything that is needed to be said, in that precise moment. This question should be a form of validation, a constant practice of humankind. This practice would appear to abolish any severity that has the human population captive to their body.

Unfortunately, none of that is reality.

Our current state of life is a masked society that does not honor authentic feelings. The question of “How are you?” is directed toward others out of politeness, as if it were an expectation to ask such a question. It has been used and overused that now children begin to see that the greater society has no interest in investing time to sit with them in such a simple act that is listening. Children are surrounded with subliminal messages of adulting; evading tears because if someone cries, weakness is expressed and an apology must be made for the drops that formed in one’s eyes.

Our culture has dipped into this pool of pretense, posting photos on social media that create a sense of fulfillment and happiness from the eye of the viewer. Meanwhile, there is a rotting of sanity inside of the uploader, leaving them with an unwillingness to voice this activity.

No one is willing to listen, and when those who post about their hurtings are ridiculed for posting their problems. They are told that social media is not a platform to post their issues.

That comment is followed with “you are only posting for attention.”

Once again, they are pushed away, shown that there is no room for a validation of who they are.

If you are not willing to listen to someone’s authentic feelings, it is as simple as not posing that question.