Don't speak, I know just what you're saying
My friend Molly recently told me a story that I found enlightening and very amusing.
She is standing outside her workplace–a veterinarian’s office–on break one day when a homeless gentleman spots her and walks her way. As he approaches, Molly goes through all the stock phrases most of us prepare in a situation like this (“Sorry, don’t have any change.” “This is my last cigarette.” “I left my wallet inside. Can’t help you today.”). He walks up and says, “Is there a veterinarian around here?” Molly (wearing her vet scrubs) smiles and nods to the building she is leaning against, “There’s one right here.” The man replies, while flexing and then tapping his biceps, “Good cuz these doggies are hurting!” Then he walks off.
Upon hearing this story, I asked myself: How often do we actually have the conversation we plan to have? How often do we end up having the conversation we expect to have with a waiter, a shop clerk, a cop? More importantly how often do we say to ourselves, “When I tell him/her about this, (s)he is going to be pissed off, complain that it isn’t fair, and then be grumpy for the rest of the evening. Why do they always act this way?!?” Then what happens? Exactly what you thought would happen! (more…)
