The phone rings and you answer, and the person on the other end greets you  saying,

• “Hi, how are you?”  

You might reply with,

• “I’m fine thanks and you?”

You walk into a grocery store and the cashier says,

• “Hi, how are you today?”  

You might look up and give a half smile and say,

• “Fine.” 

A friend asks you out for lunch and when you arrive to the restaurant, your friend says,

• “Hey, how are you doing?”

You may look at your friend and say,

• “Okay and you?”

Is the person who is asking  really interested in how the other is doing or is it more of a “let’s do lunch” response?  Think about it for a moment, when you ask someone how they are, are you ready for their reaction?  

Do you really want to know how they are doing?  What if that person really is in need that day, you ask how they are and while you are asking you are thinking about your next sentence and overlook the situation?  Let’s be sensitive to who we meet each day, and give a greeting with warmth. Weather it is someone you know very well or people you run into during everyday life such as the guy pushing your cart out to the car, the people drying off your vehicle at the car wash, the hostess at a restaurant, or the gas station attendant, let’s show that we are interested in them.  You might be surprised at the response you get, or better yet, how you will feel by making someone else smile.

It is amazing what a little interest in another person can do for their self confidence.   We all have an opportunity to bring a little sunshine into the lives of every person we meet.  Yes, this can happen with just a sincere, “Hi, how is your day going?” 

There is power of life and death in your words.  A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them.  An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.