Are you ready?

What a loaded question: Are you ready?

It’s a question of doubt and reassurance.
It’s a question of uncertainty and validation.
It’s a question of finality and beginning.
It’s a question of fear and excitement.

Are you ready for the presentation? Are you ready to get married? Are you ready to begin surgery? Are you ready to say goodbye?

On the other side of this question there is rarely an option. Because, ready or not, the next step begins: the lights go down, the doors open, the mask goes on. It’s time. It’s happening.

Then why do we ask this rhetorical question: because it’s question looking for gumption rather than an answer. The question seeks courage rather than clarity.

Ready or not, here it comes.