Hot take: I stopped saying 'bless you' after sneezes and it feels way better

For my whole life, I'd just say it automatically, like everyone else. Then a friend from Seattle pointed out it's a weird holdover from old plague times and doesn't really mean anything. I tried not saying it for a week, and the silence felt more polite than forcing a pointless phrase. Has anyone else dropped this habit and gotten weird looks?

3 comments

3 Comments

jade5401d ago

Honestly I read an article a while back about the history of it. The whole thing started because people thought a sneeze could let your soul escape or that demons could get in. It's pretty wild when you think about it. Now it just feels like a weird reflex. I still catch myself saying it sometimes out of habit, but I'm trying to stop. The silence after a sneeze is actually pretty nice, it feels more real.

terry_wood511d ago

Wait, you stopped because a friend from Seattle said so?

mila_perry131d ago

Nah, it wasn't just that. She's lived there for years and gave me the real rundown on the traffic and the cost of everything. It made me actually look at my budget again. Her take just added a layer I hadn't considered before.