I finally stopped saying 'I'm fine' at my grandma's 80th party

Back in March at my grandma's 80th in Cleveland, I spent the whole afternoon pretending to be thrilled while my cousin kept asking about my job search. I had just lost my position at the warehouse and felt like a total failure. I smiled through cake, laughed at jokes, but inside I just wanted to hide in the bathroom. That night it hit me how much energy I waste putting on a show for people who don't really want the honest answer anyway. So now I practice saying something like 'it's a rough patch' when someone asks. Has anyone else found a way to be honest without killing the mood at family gatherings?

2 comments

2 Comments

betty_wells1mo ago

April in Cleveland is still cold enough to blame on the weather.

the_linda1mo ago

@betty_wells cold enough that my joints filed a formal complaint.