When you’re out of your comfort zone and relying on someone else, how good are they at reading your needs?

Doctors, mechanics, bartenders, physical therapists, plumbers, call center reps; everyone. Do they explain the how and why? Too much or too little? Are they kind? Do they even bother? Anyone can point a camera or fill your prescription with the right training. You go for the service, but you go back for the connection.

Most of my life this stuff was just background noise.

Now I focus on it. I love the people who’ve done this so long and carefully they have their own storehouses of metaphors.

After shoulder surgery, my doctor told me “no chicken arm.” Love that. Easy to do because it’s easy to remember. Later the physical therapist told me only to lift with a bent elbow: “T-Rex arm.” I’m sure she’s said that to hundreds of people, but the mnemonic made ME feel special, cared for.

I ponder these things because they put me in touch with my empathy. So I can stay connected to your world, and help you (briefly) forget the camera’s even there.