Have a Good One!

By Tracy Schruder

I’ve been racking my brain all morning over today’s daily prompt, and I must admit that I’m stumped. Given the concept that I could ban a word from general usage, I drew a complete blank. I couldn’t think of a single word that I’d like to see banned.

However, there is a phrase that grates on my nerves: “Have a good one!” This phrase has become commonplace in the retail industry. Every time I shop, instead of a hearing genuine “thank you” or “have a nice day” from the cashier, my ears are met with a casual “have a good one.”

My inner response is always, “Have a good what?!” But I bite my tongue, smile politely, and thank the clerk. After all, they’re only trying to be friendly in their own way, using their own lingo.

Still, it’s frustrating to see language evolve in ways that don’t align with my own preferences. My stubborn and proper side dies a little inside each time I hear this phrase.

Nevertheless, I recognize that language and communication are constantly evolving, and we have limited control over these changes. Just as I’ve come to accept the transition from being addressed as ‘Miss’ to ‘Ma’am’ after turning 50, I’ve learned to adapt to these shifts and navigate them with ease and grace.