"Bless Your Heart"

[Ruby Vee]

That's a phrase that I'm sure is meant well (most of the time), but for some reason it just grates on my nerves. Most of the time, it strikes me as condescending. It's like the quintessential Southernism Bless your heart,” which I'm coming to learn means nothing of the sort. (According to my late sister-in-law, bless your heart” means You're behaving like a Yankee — synonymous with ‘Troll' — and you have no idea that we're all laughing at you behind your back.” This is the same sister-in-law who referred to me, until her dying day as That dam Yankee my brother brought home.”

Somehow, Have a Blessed Day” just strikes me in the same way — as sarcastic, condescending and insincere. Every time I see a post ending that way, it makes me reassess the content and is sure to get my dander up. I know I'm not the only one who sees it that way. So I'm wondering, how do the majority of AN members see/use the expression?

[Conqueror+, BSN, RN]

You are right, but here in the US, did you ever hear a non-Christian say it?

To be clear, there is a non-zero statistical chance that every oxygen molecule in the room will spontaneously move to the other side of the room and I'll suffocate, but the chances are so small that I don't consider the possibility during my day.

Actually yes but I live in Florida and we have people of a lot of different faiths living here. maybe it's not the same in other places that are less diverse. But to be fair it's Christians saying it that seems to make people angry

[RainMom]

It just occurred to me....

The feeling I get when I hear "Have a blessed day" is the same as when I hear "I have the time". Hmmm......

[canigraduate]

I grew up in the South and sometimes "Bless your heart" is a stock phrase used by a lot of people who either can't say what they want to, or they don't know WHAT to say, but want you to know that they care.

I know that there is a stereotype that it means all kinds of negative things, thanks to Steel Magnolias, but that has more to do with the speaker than the phrase. (Or sometimes the listener just likes being offended.)

As far as "have a blessed day" goes, I have only heard it become popular in the last few years. Before that, it was something I'd hear from particularly conservative pastors. In its current use, it sounds kind of militant to me, maybe as a reaction to the declining power of the church in popular society.

I like being blessed and having positive words spoken over me, though, so it doesn't bother me. I don't care about your religious affiliation, but I think it's sweet that the speaker cares, even impersonally.

[kdoggie]

Have a Blessed Day creeps me out! In the NYC area it appears to be something homeless people say after you walk by them without giving them money. It feels like they are putting a hex on me!

[Ruby Vee, BSN]

Have a Blessed Day creeps me out! In the NYC area it appears to be something homeless people say after you walk by them without giving them money. It feels like they are putting a hex on me!

Yeah, it creeps me out, too, but I hadn't thought of it in quite that way! Vivid!