'Fine, thanks...'

There was a time when I was growing increasingly annoyed by the pointless, wasteful conversation which is performed countless times around the world every single day (but is particularly prevalent on this patch of island). It goes something like this:

Person 1: "Good morning. How are you?"

Person 2: "Fine, thanks; and you?"

Person 1: "Yes, good, thanks."

How annoyingly bland. There's even an etiquette which states that even if you're far from alright, the answer should be just on the positive side of entirely average.

However, I have had a revelation. This dull, run-of-the-mill conversation is a fantastic opportunity for a bit of positive mental adjustment. I've started to find something, anything in the preceding few hours or days which is uplifting, and then focus on that.

It's great! Yes, I'm tired because my daughter isn't sleeping well at the moment. Yes, I'm still separated from my dream job by the yawning chasm of reality. But I had a lovely weekend, the weather's great, my garden is coming along nicely, I've got a summer holiday planned... There's so much to be happy about, and having that dire little conversation around the coffee machine is the perfect opportunity to realise it.

Next time, it should go like this:

Person 1: "Mornin'. How's it going?"

You: "Absolutely fantastic, thank you. Top o' the world. I personally saved the lives of a family of endangered pandas over the weekend, then stumbled across a cure for the common cold in the shower this morning. You?"

Person 1: "Yeah, fine, thanks..."