Day 62: Real Meaning

It’s always been pretty common for people to use the word “well” in e-mails, as in “I hope you are well.” Under ordinary circumstances it’s just polite filler and it doesn’t really mean anything. Wellness used to be the norm, and we assumed it would continue to be. It’s not a safe assumption these days, though, and that has changed my usage and interpretation of the word. Not only have I started including it in my e-mails more often, but I actually mean it. And when I read it in e-mails that are sent to me, I feel like it’s sincere. The pandemic has given the word back its meaning.