I had to phone our Florida handyman the other day and when I asked him, "How are you, Paul?" ... he enthusiastically answered, "Fantastic!"

Wait ... what? No one usually answers that question with such a fantastic word.

What replies do we generally hear?

• good
• fine, thanks
• eh
• okay
• pretty good
• meh
• doing well
• hanging in there
• not bad, considering
• I've been better
• same crap, different day

We robotically utter a mundane answer to a robotically posed (and overused) question. Do people actually WANT to hear how we are? Are they gonna stick around a few minutes to hear our litanies of whining? Or are they only being polite as they slowly back away so they don't have to hear the complaints?

• "Wellll ... if you really want to know, I just had a big fight with my husband."
• "I have a horrid migraine."
• "I ran out of toilet paper, milk, and Doritos during the snow storm."
• "I need a knee replacement next month!"
• "I broke a nail."
• "I have a crappy sinus infection and can't stop blowing."
• "An ingrown toenail on my big toe is throbbing." 
• "I need a root canal - ack!"
• "The snow slid off the roof onto my head."
• "Why are you asking ... what have you heard?"
• "It's a dog-eat-dog world and I'm wearing Milk-Bone underwear."

Would people perk up and pay better attention if they heard a really good response to their question? 

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SNIPPETS Homework

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Snippeteers, let's try this little experiment:

1. Think of an exciting word to answer HOW ARE YOU? This will be a new reply over your standard one - hopefully delivered with a bit of enthusiasm! :D
2. Note people's reactions.

My word is going to be SPLENDID. I've used it twice already. One person said, "Oh, I like that word." (See? He heard me. He paid attention to the unique answer to a boring question.)

Here are 12 others to consider - or invent your own.

• BRILLIANT
• STUPENDOUS 
• ASTOUNDING 
• FABULOUS
• FANTASTIC
• INCREDIBLE
• PHENOMENAL
• EXTRAORDINARY
• REMARKABLE
• SPECTACULAR
• MARVELOUS
• SENSATIONAL

What's your word? The cool trick about giving such an enthusiastic response is that when we speak positive words, we are more likely to be positive in our thinking. So when we say "Fantastic!" We are actually affirming it, clarifying it, and hopefully feeling it. And perhaps the day actually will be fantastic. A perky answer can change our outlook.

WILL YOU SHARE? Please email me just your ONE simple word ... that's all you have to write. Let's inspire each other!

So, how are you???

FROM Paula W "I have a few family members who desperately need prayers ... FOR Samantha, 35, battling a very aggressive breast cancer ... FOR Heather, also battling breast cancer ... FOR my husband Michael's soul. Thank you so much!!! I really believe in the power of prayer."

FOR Regan's soul, in her 40s, who died suddenly from an unknown cause, leaving behind 2 young children, who just lost their dad 3 years ago. FOR these sweet kids (one with Down Syndrome) who are now without parents.

FOR the Guthrie family and the horror of the situation

FOR sweet new baby Lucia and FOR new parents, Ola & Vincent

FOR Welles, 6, who has had several seizures