07/09/2025
how are you?
are you okay?
musta man?
We always ask this question, or sometimes use it as a greeting to someone we haven't seen in a long time. It's a weighted question that is asked out of formality, and we often respond with surface-level answers like "I'm good" or "okay ra," making it sound convincing enough so that they will not ask, "What's wrong?"
We ask out of habit,
and then we answer out of protection, not honesty.
But there are days I want to tell someone,
"To be honest, I think I am a chip away from breaking apart. I don't have it anymore to pretend I'm alright."
And I know not everyone’s ready for this answer.
Because for some people, asking how we are isn’t about really knowing, it’s about confirming we’re doing good enough for them to move through their day without the burden of our truth.
