I feel like crap all the time, and I’m running out of curt answers.
I don’t want to lie and say I’m good just because that’s what’s expected of me, but I don’t want to invite discussion into why I feel poorly.
My go-to response is “Living the dream,” because if this life is a dream I hope to wake up soon. Plus not only is it considered an acceptable answer, it can be played off as a joke.
If anyone needs extra context, being asked “how are you” is an extended part of the greeting here. The asker is really just saying hello still, and although some kind of answer is expected, they aren’t actually curious about your welfare. A genuine response throws people off balance, and is probably unwarranted. Think of coworkers, service workers, or even total strangers being asked this dozens of times a day.
“How ya doing?”
“Doing my best.”
This has me thinking of that old TV show Dollhouse.
I’m a big fan of doing my best. My best happens to be shit a lot of the time, but it’s still my best. As long as you’re doing your best, and not trying to kill yourself by doing more than your best, I think there’s honour in that