Hanging in there with all 10 fingers and toes

That's what I usually tell people when they ask how I am. I mean, how are you supposed to answer a question like that. People don't really want to hear today's list of aches, pains and worries, they're really just saying hello. Even a really nice person who really cares does not have the time to sit down and listen to you. So how to answer? Saying fine is a flat out lie. I'm not fine, I haven't been fine for a long time and don't figure I'll be fine anytime in the near future. Maybe something along the line of "same as always", if they know you they will understand. I guess you could just ignore the question or answer with a statement of your own, something along the lines of "don't you look well today!". That would work, I suppose. If someone really wanted to know, I guess you could give them your whole list of problems and current complaints. But since most people have enough worries of their own, I don't think that would really be very nice. Maybe we could all just say hello instead, that would make it so much easier!