How are you doing?

I recently updated my "About" page with some new writing, and it got me reflecting on something simple but profound.

When people greet me with the usual "Hey Tim, how's it going?" I've gotten into the habit of responding with, "I'm better. How are you?"

That answer comes from two places.

First, I genuinely am better—so much better than I was during some of the darker chapters of my story. I don't say this lightly or take it for granted. There were times when "better" felt impossible, when I wondered if I'd ever make it back to solid ground again. But here I am, on the other side of some stuff that once felt insurmountable. I've not just survived—I've learned, grown, and discovered a kind of peace I didn't know was possible. That deserves acknowledgment, both for me and for anyone who might need to hear that "better" is real place.

Second, it opens the door to what really matters. Instead of the usual surface-level exchange, it invites a deeper question: "How are you really doing?" Because I genuinely want to know. Your answer matters to me.

These two things matter because we so easily forget how far we've come. We get caught up in current challenges and lose sight of the mountains we've already climbed. But remembering the climb—celebrating that we ARE "better"—gives us strength for what lies ahead.

They also matter because many of the people I talk with aren't feeling better right now. Life might feel overwhelming, even if they're putting on a brave face. They might feel shaken, struggling to think clearly, watching parts of their life become more complicated than they ever thought possible.

If that's you right now, please know this: where you are today isn't where you'll always be. A better place is closer than you think.

As I wrote on that updated page: "Whatever brought you here, you're not alone." Sometimes the breakthrough we need most happens in a simple conversation held in a safe place, with someone who genuinely cares. That's what I'm here for.

Here's to honest conversations about how we're really doing—and to the hope that we're all moving toward "better."

Feel free to share.