How are you? Really. [12]?

The numbering may be off. I believe this is the twelfth time I’ve asked this.

I started asking this many years ago, and the last time I asked it was last August. In the US, “how are you?” is a common greeting, and we almost never expect to hear the truth. Most people reply with a banal “fine” and then go back to their business.

So how are you? How are you really doing? How’s life? How’s the family? How’s your job? Tell us.

I am in a very good place personally. I started dating a man 3 months ago, and it’s going very well. Very very well actually. We may be travelling together in November.

Professionally, I’m in a state of apprehension. I have a stable job, but there are many things really bad about it. I started looking for other jobs last year. In April, I interviewed for one job, but that was unsuccessful. I currently have 4 applications at various state departments. One application is in a good stage of the process, and I am expecting to hear something about it as early as this week.