By Cathy Sovinsky

It was snowing this morning as I made my way to the office. There are certain days of the week that parking spaces are at a premium because of the group classes that are offered at the gym. The snow takes away the visibility of the parking lines and leads to general parking mayhem. On my second time through the lot I spotted someone leaving the gym headed to his car. I pulled aside, put my turning signal on to alert others as to my intent and waited for the person to back out. While I was waiting, another car came around the corner and pulled right into the space.

O.K. Am I going to make this a 5 second problem or a 5 minute problem I asked myself.

I took a deep breath, attempted to realize it wasnt the end of the world and continued my search. I found a far away space at the edge of the lot. I looked like a sherpa carrying all of my belongings for the day through the parking lot and up to the third floor where our office is.

As lunch came, I went down to the gym for my workout. I was in the middle of my workout when I got involved in a short conversation with the woman at the front desk. It couldnt have taken more than three 3 minutes, but when I returned to my bench, someone had removed all of the weights from the barbell I was using and was now using it himself.
Were you using this he asked.

I took a deep breath. Yes, I was, but I can go use another bench. I said, trying my best not to appear irritated, but knowing I was failing miserably.

While I was in between sets on my new bench I noticed a woman on crutches with a cast on her foot. Id seen her several times before. Shes a runner and always on the treadmill. What a bummer to see her on crutches. She was trying to gather her belongings and leave. I watched from across the room as she tried to make her way around a group of 5 people who were gathered near the front door talking. She leaned on the door and awkwardly maneuvered her way out the door. Not one person standing there tried to help her.

On my way home, I ran into the grocery store. I didnt need much but I grabbed a cart anyway. It seems when I only grab those little hand baskets I end up getting way too much and can hardly lift it to the counter. I ran to the produce section to grab some berries for breakfast the next morning. There stood a woman in front of the berries as well as other things, just looking up and down the display. She wasnt grabbing for anything, she appeared to be window shopping. I wanted to buy...NOW. I could have said, Excuse me, and just butted in front of her. But I didnt. I stood there waiting for her to do something. She continued to do nothing, so I ran to get something else. I was scanning the shelf and found what I wanted. As I grabbed it I turned around and saw that I had left my cart in the middle of the aisle and there was someone standing there who was unable to pass. Busted!

It seems that were all rather self absorbed and oblivious to others and the world around us at times. Im pretty sure its not that people are inconsiderate, because that would require consciousness. Its an unconscious thing. There are times when we are just plain clueless of whats going on around us. And its usually because were so into our own stuff that we cant see anything else.

How aware are you of others both in and out of your office Dr. Sovinsky talks about finding a Golden Ticket. Its a ticket that gives you insight into why a patient is really in your office, the underlying issue, the driving force. I hear too many Doctors saying, Im just not finding any Golden Tickets. After my observations today, Im suspecting you arent really looking or listening. You are probably so into your own stuff that you arent aware of your environment. You arent aware that someone is waiting for that parking space, or wanting your opinion about a concern they have because you are too busy wondering what youre going to say next. People tell you all sorts of things about themselves: Why they are hurting, what the pain is keeping them from doing. It may be a construction worker that hurt his back and cant work. He might not tell you in so many words, just like I dont like to say, Excuse me and but in. But hell let you know hes worried about the bills and providing for his family. Maybe hes got that covered but the pain keeps him from fishing. Did you know he likes to fish every weekend

Open up your peripheral senses. There may just be a ton more happening around you than you know.
“Real knowledge is to know the extent of one’s ignorance.” – Confucius