how are you doing?

When you ask someone "How are you doing?" Do you really expect a detailed answer? Do you really want to know? Or are you already half way there to your next destination as they are answering? Why then, do you even ask?

Today my old coachee came up to me and asked "Unny, how are you doing?" I was just about to say "oh I had a tough week but it's getting better." I half expected her to just say oh really? and move on to the next topic of conversation. But her look said otherwise.

It stayed with me, that look on her face. Her desire to know more. The look that said "oh, good." was not gonna cut it. And I thought to myself, how many times do I genuinely want to know? How many times am I willing to genuinely know and ask how others are doing. Because I care how they are doing, because it matters to me, because they matter to me. Because that is what friendship means--to know how my sister/brother is doing, to know their needs, the matters of their heart. So it's going to take a little more than a passing conversation while standing in line at the fellowship food line. It's going to take a bit longer than a facebook comment.

I'm not going to ask unless I can give them my attention and time to really listen. No more half-assing the how are you's. (excuse the language)