"I'm blessed"

[Radical Activist]

I was at the bank today and there was a middle aged man that asked everyone he came across, "How are you?" When they said, "Fine, how are you today?" He replied, "I'm Blessed." Every time. After he kept doing it I got the impression that he enjoys telling everyone how blessed he is.

Well, good for him the smarmy little missionary. Is there anyone besides evangelical Christians who say this? It sounds like another little way to inject his faith into every aspect of conversation with others. It sounded smug. Is he bragging? Did God bless him with a big unit? Is that what he's so proud of? It became irritating. Anyone else come across this?

[lumberingbear]

1. Yes , there are others that say this.

One of my best friends was killed by her husband who "got religion" and went around telling eveyone he "was blessed". He took out 2 million dollars worth of insurance and then two weeks later he drugged her and pushed her car with her in it, into a pond. (He had also been a suspect in the death of his first wife, who was electricuted in her bathtub when the radio "jumped" across the bathroom and into the tub.)

I do realize that people feel blessed for various reasons, but when I hear people using "I'm blessed" in every other sentence, it sends shivers down my back. :scared:

[Radical Activist]

2. scary

I thought that stuff only happened in movies.

[lumberingbear]

6. It does happen.

My friend was the kindest, sweetest person on Earth. Loved by everyone. She left behind three wonderful kids, all under 7 yo.
They were raised by her brother and his family and what I hear they all turned out very well adjusted and all went to college. One is a Doctor.

[crispini]

24. WTF?

Jeez!

[Benfea]

26. My friend's sister was killed by a boyfriend who insisted she was Satan

My apologies to Christians on this board, but your religion terrifies me.

[Aristus]

43. No need to apologize, Benfea. I'm a Christian and those "I'm blessed"

people scare ME! Conservative evangelicals are ruining what should be a glorious, loving, open, accepting, peaceful faith. No matter how sincerely they render their "I'm blessed!", it always sounds pretentious and arrogant. I'm a 'Matthew, Chapter 6, verse 5' kind of guy. I keep my praying private.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

48. You are just being honest

and politely so. Lots of folks terrify me, too.

[xmas74]

3. I sometimes tell people that.

But my name does mean "blessed" so I can say that and get away w/ it.

[Radical Activist]

4. That's allowable

But only for people with your name.

[xmas74]

5. Thank you.

And a rather unusual name it is.

[AtomicKitten]

7. you should have kicked him in the nuts

and asked him how blessed he feels now.

[Radical Activist]

8. I was thinking of saying, "Oh yeah, well I'm MORE blessed!"

But I like your idea better.

[Beausoir]

44. BAHA! THAT is funny. n/t

[Rowdyboy]

9. Its VERY common in the south, especially with black women.....

Many cashiers in restaurants, grocery stores, convenience stores etc are lower income black women. They frequently wish customers a "blessed day". I'm sure it comes out of their religious faith. I suppose you could say they're "pushing" their religion. They mean no harm and I certainly take no offense. I just smile and say "You too" which usually makes them smile too. Then everybody feels good.

Would I use it? No, its not in my cultural lexicon. Do I find it offensive. Nah. They mean no harm. They're simply saying they wish me well.

After all, when you say "goodbye", you're really saying "God be with you".

[Radical Activist]

10. That's a little different.

I think its lousy grammar, but wishing someone else a good day is a little different than bragging, "I'm blessed." I'm not a big fan of either example though.

[supernova]

11. I second this

I hear it very much from a-a women.

I don't take offense.

Afterall, would you really wish them to have a worse day? :shrug:

[Maddy McCall]

13. Yes, it is.

:hi: Rowdy! I went through your home town a couple of weeks ago, and I'm planning to head back that way in a couple more weeks. Let's talk about having lunch or at least a cup of coffee.

:loveya:

[Maddy McCall]

12. Doesn't bother me. A teller at the bank where I go...

lost her son a year or so ago--he was murdered. She is as kind a person, and the best bank teller at the bank. I always ask, "Geri, how are you doing," and she always responds, "I'm blessed, how are you?"

After the tragedy she went through--her only son being murdered--her faith is important to her, and I would never find anything wrong with that. If I were her, I'd still be sobbing in my bed, uncontrollably...I could never get back up.

Faith gives some people strenth to face the day. If you don't know the person's history, you shouldn't judge them.

[Common Sense Party]

40. Great response. I think we should all "Count Our Blessings"

every day...regardless of where you think those blessings come from.

Once in a while, it's a pretty healthy idea to step back from the crap of life and take stock of all the good.

[fiddlestix]

14. My Southern friends like to say "Blessings on You!"

I like that, I can always use some...

They say it at appropriate times, it's not by way of greeting, it's more like...when a person shares some sadness...like a son lost to drugs...and this person has custody of the son's wild kids...and life is just getting harder & harder till you don't wanna get outta bed....

And somebody will quietly say, "Blessings on You"

And, to me, the Northerner, it sounds like, "Awwww, c'mere, lemme give you a great big hug!"

Just gimme that ole time religion, etc.

[Radical Activist]

17. Wishing someone blessings doesn't bother me so much.

Constantly bragging to others that one is "blessed" doesn't seem to fit the Biblical admonition of humility, at least that's how it comes off to me.

[Arugula Latte]

15. Yeah -- that "blessed" crap bothers me, too.

I'm with ya, R.A. -- keep your frickin' religious delusions to yourself, and I don't care if you "mean no harm."

[Starbucks Anarchist]

16. A co-worker at my old company always said, "Have a blessed day."

He was an evangelical, but I never took it as proselytizing because he wasn't like that at all.

[aclog]

18. I knew a woman who wished people a blessed day on her voicemail

[RPM]

19. "I'm fucked"

but I'mm cool with that...

[Radical Activist]

20. What a great response!

I should start saying that.

[RPM]

21. feel free to use it....

when i get an evangelical type in the town square i always like to say "see you in hell"

I'd like to think it gives them pause.... but it probably doesnt.

[Benfea]

42. I have long hair and I'm only half white so they already fear me....

…I usually summon my best satanic-sounding voice, roll my eyes into the back of my head and bark "You can't help me! I'm gonna burn in Hell! Stick around a while and I'll take you with me!"

It's amazing how fast they can move when they have motivation.

[zone]

22. Blessed Be

Happy Imbolc everybody (actually, the Celtic/Pagan holiday celebrating the returning of the light was yesterday). This is the sun peeking through the foggy woods above and behind my greenhouse.

[Radical Activist]

23. I knew pagans used it in some context!

I just couldn't remember.

[fiddlestix]

41. What a great picture!

Where do you live?

[LeftyMom]

25. 'round here "blessed" is more of a pagan/new age woman thing

Usually women of a certain age who still want to be Stevie Nicks when they grow up. :eyes:

Of course, we don't exactly have a ton of evangelicals where I'm at. Next time I'm up in Placer county (the local big haired SUV drivin' mcmansion living jebus freak hell, for those of you who don't know the area) I'll keep my ear open for it.

[Radical Activist]

27. LOL

"women of a certain age who still want to be Stevie Nicks when they grow up."

That's a very good, descriptive phrase. I know exactly the type.

[zone]

28. Hey, my wife does a mean cover of "Rhiannon."

And don't make fun of her or she might turn you into a toad.

[Ikonoklast]

29. You should have shook his hand

and then gave him a big hug, then tell him, "I'm glad to hear that. I'm infectious."

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. Yes, I was blessed with my son James...We were told he was

an impossibility. :hi:

[zone]

31. Ditto

Blessed with children.

[UncleSepp]

32. I always thought that meant "I'm pregnant"

In which case, no wonder the fellow couldn't keep the news to himself!

[merh]

33. I'm blessed I didn't die in Katrina!

:hi:

[auntAgonist]

37. truly you are blessed merh

and I might add, a blessing !

:hug:

aA

[merh]

39. Aww, thank you so much

auntAgonist. :hug:

I count you among my blessings. :pals:

[I Have A Dream]

34. I personally feel that my life has been blessed, and I feel intense...

gratitude for what I have. However, I certainly don't do what he did; that certainly would be annoying. In a real conversation with someone (not just small talk), I wouldn't hesitate to mention that I feel blessed however.

(By the way, I'm not at all religious but I'm very spiritual, and by saying that I've been blessed, it doesn't mean that I think that I'm special but rather lucky.)

[TInCanCommunications]

35. Got nothing better to complain about

The dude is trying to be positive in his own way, and you bitch about it.

Go figure.

[auntAgonist]

36. at times

when in conversation with someone, I have been known to say "I'm blessed" OR " I feel truly blessed" in reference to my health being better, my son finding the 'right' girl and the upcoming birth of my first grandchild. I don't offer "I'm blessed" after every sentence or greeting. I guess, if the man feels truly blessed and is telling everyone about it, what harm is there?

It's really of no consequence.

aA

[mikelewis]

38. Maybe he is blessed and just felt like sharing...

[JanMichael]

45. Or better yet "Have a Blessed Day".

:puke:

[kedrys]

46. My pagan friends usually say goodbye with "Blessed Be"

and a hand on the other person's shoulder or chest. I always return the gesture. :loveya: It's those *other* people that give me the screaming heebie-jeebies. :scared:

It's really weird how the same basic greeting can warm your soul or send you running out of the room screaming depending on who's saying it.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

47. Here in Tallahassee

you often hear black folks say "I'm blessed" or "have a blessed day." Especially on their voice mail messages. I'm used to it, living in the Bible belt.

But it sounds like maybe this fellow was a card short of a deck and looking for attention?