How often do you get asked this question? Are you okay?

Life happens in different ways to us all. Do you look at someone and think, wow she/ he is lucky!

Our eyes portray false images of what we see. Yes, the person you think is lucky may have material possessions that may appear to make them happy, but the real story lies behind closed doors which we cannot access.

No one’s life is perfect, and money cannot buy you true happiness.

We all have had a dark moment at some point in our life, whether we have lost a beloved and dear person or have experienced divorce, loss, financial stress, etc. the list is continuous and just like life it never stops. Life on earth will continue long after you are gone because you will leave behind a family who will remember you, a legacy and maybe an untold story, but life will go on.

If you like watching people try to find inspiration from what you see. If you are women like me and I am certainly guilty of looking at how other women dress because I am always trying to improve my style. I might own the same or similar clothes but have never thought to match it up like the stranger standing in front of me.

But back to that very important question! Are you okay?

I don’t get asked often enough if I am okay. How are you? Is the pass by question for the day that I might hear from colleagues?

I have wondered at times if people ask me how I am to fill the silence after “Hello” or do they care to know.

One day I went to buy coffee and donuts, and the server asked me how I was. I said not okay! His surprise was not new to me. He expected a fine thank you like all the customers before me.  Needless to say, he was polite enough to ask why and I told him it was a rough day at work. From that moment we became more than a server and customer, every time I went to buy my coffee we spoke about life, and we became friends.

We need to start asking people if they are okay.  People are not the same every day. Movement and faces of people surround us on a daily basis, but we fail to see their changes. Unless the person is overly happy, we notice and comment. There are times when people are overcome with darkness and sadness. Do we subconsciously or intentionally choose to ignore what we see?  Why do we do this? Fear maybe? Are we afraid to reach out because we do not know how to give support?

A simple question will make a massive difference to the person. Someone sees me. Someone cares enough to ask me. Am I okay?

You might not know it, but at that moment when you asked this question, you have saved a life.

You see before you asked me  I was not okay, but your concern for me has shifted my thoughts of loneliness and sadness into hope and a feeling of gratitude. No matter what I am going through, someone took a moment from their busy life’s to think about me.

Someone cared enough to ask me.

 ARE YOU OKAY?