Go Against the Grain

"I'm fine."

The classic phrase that means life sucks and I wish I was having a better day - a cover-up to say "Actually no, I'm not okay. And yes, secretly I want you to ask me about it so I can vent." We all have those days though, right? The days where nothing seems to be going right and all of a sudden every trial in your life seems to culminate into one big suck-fest? Trust me, I've had my fair share of the "I'm fine" type of days. 

But when people ask you how you are, why do you settle for just being fine or okay? 

This past summer I heard people at work constantly answering their phones. The client would ask them how they were and every single time, without fail, the people I worked with would respond "I'm fine" or "I'm okay". They would never say the words good or great.

It didn't make sense to me and it actually really bothered me. Why are you just okay? Why aren't you at least good? I truly believe there is so much in life to be happy about. You have people that love you, you have a job and you are making really good money. You have all the necessities in life that you need, if not more. Yes, I get that life gets hard. And you know what? I get that your job is stressful and maybe there is something going on in the outside world that I don't know about. But you have so much to be thankful for.

Despite the negativity surrounding us on a daily basis, there is so much good to be seen. How lucky are we that we are surrounded by people that care about our well being? We even have the opportunity to get an education to make a living and support ourselves. And have you looked outside lately? It's absolutely beautiful. Can you believe we get to live in such a stunning place? So in reality, you are not just "fine" - you are doing great.

There is a quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley that I absolutely love.

So do me a favor. This week, when you are having one of those "I'm fine" type of days, go against the grain and fake it. Tell them you are doing good, great, wonderful, fantastic. Make them believe it, and soon enough, you will too. Because the truth is, we aren't just fine or okay. We are fabulous. 

xoxo