This one-word descriptor is more significant than we give it credit for.

I asked someone how they were feeling, and they said, “Very sad today.”

They could have used words like inconsolable, devastated, miserable, or distraught. Instead, they chose a simple word that genuinely reflected their emotions. They weren’t trying to impress me with their vocabulary. They were trying to express that things were not okay.

That interaction has made me listen more closely when someone uses the word “very.”

Sometimes, that one word is a quiet attempt to get your attention without shouting.

Life is hard, but pay special attention to those who feel it has become very difficult.