I have a challenge for all of you, just to see if you can do it, because I am struggling.

When you come across someone at work in the morning while passing them in a hallway, what do you say to them? Most people say, “Hey Jim. How are you?”(for example)

Jim responds, “good, and you?”

To which you respond, “good.”

You then continue on your merry way.

I’ve decided that, despite the fact I do this daily, this greeting is stupid and should be discontinued immediately. There is no way that in the passing interaction you just had with Jim that he is going to say, “ya know, I’m not doing so well today and I’d like to talk about it.”

Even if he did, you probably are in the middle of doing something and don’t really have time to really sit down with him. Chances are you don’t even really care how he’s currently doing. This doesn’t make you a bad person, it’s just realistic.

So I challenge you to stop asking how people are in this or any other type of passer-by setting and simply say something like, “Hey Jim, good to see you.” Or just say, “hey Jim!” and leave it at that.

DO NOT ASK HOW THEY ARE DOING. If they ask you how you’re doing, answer in the standard fashion, unless you want to take it further. If so, instead of answering with the standard, “good,” stop dead in your tracks and tell them exactly how you feel at that moment.

“Well Jim, I have to say this new antacid is giving me wicked gas and causing me to have quite the uncomfortable morning.”

I’m being silly, but if that’s how you feel right this second then tell the person this. See how they react. The goal is not to upset them, but to rather make them realize that if they are going to ask you how you are when you didn’t ask them, then they should be prepared to chat about your current actual state.

It’ll be fun, and something to break the boredom of your job for a day or more. It’s really hard to do, I can’t get out of the routine!

Here’s a question too… if you decide to play this game, what is the punishment for asking someone how they are doing? I say a quarter in a jar for every time you do it without the intention of actually sitting down and talking with someone for a couple minutes. Kind of like a swear jar. If I get a few people to agree to do it on here then I will do it too! Sound off below!!!

I spent Christmas in Daytona. Let me tell you, I was crying when I left the snow and entered 80 degree sunny weather. Ha!

My Fiancee and I got into a debate last week about what our kids will someday be involved in. I was a very involved kid. Not only did I play football, hockey, track, and even a little baseball, I was also heavily involved with choir. It was a bit awkward to stand in your football gear and sing the national anthem before taking the field, but it was a great experience.

The debate Jessi and I had was if they should play sports or not. Her opinion is she would rather have them focus on arts and expanding their mind. I don’t disagree with this at all, and before someone says it I’ll beat you to it: she’s not crazy or incorrect for thinking this way. I think if more kids did arts, regardless of which art, they would be better off in life. I think they should play sports as well as the arts because I feel it teaches you to toughen up, learn teamwork, and understand sacrifice. Jessi brought up that being in band, orchestra, or chorus teaches those things as well, which she is correct. I would only argue that running wind sprints and/or getting hit and hopping right back up after are valuable lessons only a sport can teach you.

I think my kids should do both sports and arts, Jessi could do without the sports. So my question to you all is if you could only have your kids play sports or arts, which would you choose? Please do not think of art as hippie painters, but singers and band members as well.