I work in retail, so I hear this a lot. In fact, I hear it about as much as I say it. It's become (well, became a long time ago) a commonplace phrase, used by anyone and everyone to express a generalized sense of good wishes.
Repetition and familiarity of course lends itself to insincerity and non-intimacy. Case in point--have you ever heard the phrase "three little words"? "I love you" is so "commonly thrown around" (see all the quotes?) that we begin to question how genuine these phrases really are when they're spoken. The following question, then, is what do we mean by "have a good day"?
But if you deconstruct the phrase in itself, and think about what it is that you're saying, and think about what it is that you're meaning... you'll probably realize that you actually, genuinely mean it when you say it.
It's certainly not the other way around--I don't wish ill on anyone that I come into contact with. What else is there but to wish for the unification of joy?
Owing it all to nothing more than our similarities, our humanity, we're more in love with each other than we realize.
Monday, April 27, 2009
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It's true. Though most people wouldn't think they were being sincere if asked to think about it, they would realize that they really do mean it. Too bad it's impossible to keep fresh.
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