Have you ever noticed that every time you run across someone either in passing, at the check out counter, or within a conversation with a friend or family that the first question that comes out of their mouth is “how’s your day or how you doing”? Usually the response is “I’m ok, fine, fair to middling, great, outstanding, fair to partly cloudy, moderately neato, some other positive remark, or a sarcastic negative response”.

I’ve always been intrigued by that. It’s almost as how someone’s day is going will determine how the conversation is going to go. If someone is having a good day then the conversation is usually quick, to the point, and done. But if someone is having a bad hair day then the conversation will go one of two ways. One it could go the way of you are a sympathetic ear and will listen to every word this person has to say as they dump all their problems onto you because you brought up the question. Or, two it could cause a really awkwardly tense moment and you try your best to get out of the conversation by either looking at your watch or creating something else you have to do and you have to leave now.

This question is a great conversation starter or ender depending on how you look at it. But, if you are not prepared for the person to really tell you how their day is, then I suggest you don’t use this as a conversation starter because it could start a whole different thing than you originally intended. Usually I veer off to my next question/conversation starter which is “what about this weather we’re having”, which has the exact same potential for either a negative or positive response. So I am still wondering is there a better way to start a conversation, and if so what is it?

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