The greatest lie we tell every day
I am fine.
All of us lie from time to time for a variety of reasons. White lies, dark grey lies and light grey lies.
Did somebody ask you, “How are you?” today?
I am sure you said, “I am fine”.
There is no greater lie or a more oft-repeated lie in the world.
It is such an automatic lie programmed into us by society that we don’t even think we are lying.
Well, the alternative would be to say; I woke up at 4 am and could not fall back asleep so I am feeling sleep-deprived. The client I signed last week has been a pain in my ass, I am starting to think if the money is worth the complaining that I am required to face. My parents’ health has been an ongoing concern and I am not able to decide what to have for breakfast but otherwise, everything else is fine.
How many of you would want to hear that when you ask, “How are you?”
I knew someone whose answer to, “How are you?”; was always, “can’t complain”. That is probably closer to the truth than I am fine.
Consequentially we are often completely oblivious to what is happening in the lives of those we meet most often!