Is it well with my soul?

Lately, I've noticed more and more how often the word "well" gets used in daily conversations. It subconsciously affixes itself to the beginning of most of our sentences.

How was work today, dear?
Well, it was hectic..

Why is it that this word becomes the automatic prelude to any idea or response? If we replayed an audio recording of our day and tallied all the "wells" that sneaked past our teeth, my guess is that we'd be surprised. When you stop and think about the word (the times it is used consciously), it generally denotes a level of contentment or satisfaction with an event, project or one's state of being.

How did the business meeting go today, dear?
It went surprisingly well!

And yet, "well" can attach itself to the beginning of almost any variety of phrase, whether in answer to a question or to continue a conversation; whether it is good news or bad.

What is the prognosis, doctor?
Well, it doesn't look good...

I add it on all the time, whether I'm telling a funny story or talking about cancer. And I do it without thinking. Does tacking on the word give an additional second and a half to formulate what one is going to say next? That makes sense to me.

But why the word "well"? Why not "See" or "Lookie here" or just take a breath? This four-letter word can be a harbinger of dismal news as much as it can characterize peace, almost as if it is actually pointing toward the noun-ish definition instead:

-n.- a pit or hole sunk into the earth to reach a supply of water.

It's ironic that many people might be using this particular image to subconsiously characterize their own life or circumstances rather than convey a sense of peace. Or maybe we grasp at this word, because we'd like some well-ness to affix itself to our circumstances; to let the prelude to our day be to some peace to reach for out the bottom of the pit.

Then again, maybe it is in the darkest pit of death that the waters of baptism spring cool and deep.