At the time of writing, we still don’t have a president-elect. Most people I know are glued to their TVs, computers and phones, eagerly watching the results come in. It’s nerve racking, to the say the least. I start each day by checking in with my friends and coworkers: how are you?

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The answer is predictable — some better, some worse. Some people rattle off a standard “fine.” But are they fine? Is there a better way to ask? Senior reporter Kelsey Borresen talked to therapists about the most effective ways to ask someone how they’re doing to find out how they’re really doing — and how you can best support them. The advice is applicable at this present moment and beyond.

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Xo, Ashley Rockman

In case you missed it:

If you’re in need of a distraction, look no further than artist Adrienne Hedger’s relatable illustrations about being stuck at home with your family during COVID. They put a comedic spin on a not-so-comedic situation.

FYI:

And for a fun fact: there’s a German word that perfectly captures the feeling of intense secondhand embarrassment you feel for someone when you witness something particularly cringeworthy (Have you seen “Borat 2?” This definitely applies). “Fremdschämen” is “the notion or feeling of shame or embarrassment particularly toward people you don’t personally know and oftentimes never met in real life,” said Ales Pickar, a German writer. It requires some degree of empathy — and perhaps the sneaking feeling that this could have happened to you.

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