The familiar refrain has oft went like this: we\u2019ll talk about all things via the Intramuralist \u2014 albeit always, we will do so respectfully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes we learn from the silliest places. Sometimes life\u2019s most poignant lessons arise from the totally unexpected. We learn from both the big and the seemingly small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today I\u2019d like to learn from my trip to the dentist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
I had to return last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You know the drill\u2026 good dental care\u2026 biannual check ups\u2026 low sugar\u2026 lots of brushing\u2026 and floss \u2014 yes, floss!<\/strong> (Insert sigh here \u2014 with all due respect to drs. Baron, Fennell, Y and Y.)<\/em> It\u2019s not that we don\u2019t like<\/em> the dentist; in fact, to go now is nothing<\/em> like it used to be 25 years ago. (Note: the sigh comes from 25 years ago; those needles were <\/em>really<\/em><\/strong> big.)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n As with each of my medical professionals, I have a solid, positive relationship with my dentist. It\u2019s a new relationship, though, having relocated in recent years. But I like him. A lot. In addition to providing his excellent, professional care, we typically talk college football and the combo joys and frustrations of raising kids wisely. I respect him much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The visit before last, Dr. M shared with me his professional recommendations for continued care. Understood. Got the plan. Check.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two weeks later I received a more generic email, generated by his office, which encouraged me to follow up with the plan. I picked up upon a sense of ardent urgency that I did not perceive in the actual office. I felt as if the office visit and the subsequent generic email did not correlate well together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Seeing Dr. M soon thereafter while accompanying one of my kids (with those joys and frustrations),<\/em> I asked Dr. M if it was ok to share some feedback. Fully welcoming my insight, I shared with him my discomfort with the perceived uncorrelated communication. Dr. M stayed present, asked multiple questions in order to understand, said he\u2019d look into it, and thanked me for sharing respectful feedback. [Note: respectful does not equate to negative or positive.]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n On return to Dr. M this past week \u2014 multiple months after the feedback interaction \u2014 this visit he asked to speak to me. He said, \u201cI want to let you know what I did with the feedback you provided.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n At that time he shared that he looked into the issue, considered our office visit conversation, and he reviewed the generic email. His staff team then spent time discussing the issue. What was their perspective?<\/p>\n\n\n\n He then shared with me totally politely, respectfully, and appropriately that after taking time to thoroughly review, investigate, discuss, and consider, they did not agree with my perspective. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Allow me to be clear: there was nothing said rudely nor wrongly. His words were in depth and respectful. The only thing significantly marking this conversation was disagreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It was excellent.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n I looked at him and thanked him. And then I said, with a small smile on my face:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s ok. I may be wrong.\u201d<\/em> Respect isn\u2019t dependent upon agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After all, we may wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Respectfully\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n AR The familiar refrain has oft went like this: we\u2019ll talk about all things via the Intramuralist \u2014 albeit always, we will do so respectfully. Sometimes we learn from the silliest places. Sometimes life\u2019s most poignant lessons arise from the totally unexpected. We learn from both the big and the seemingly small. Today I\u2019d like to … <\/p>\n
\n
\nFriends, the beauty of my dentist visit \u2014 and what I believe would be wise to employ in all of our conversations, be them about Donald Trump, impeachment, the presidential candidates, and more \u2014 is that the dentist respected me enough to sincerely consider my opinion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"