Had a weirdly helpful chat with my barber yesterday

Honestly, I was just getting a trim and he asked if I was okay because I was staring at the floor. I explained I was just focusing on the tile pattern to handle the noise. He said, 'Oh, my nephew does that too, he says it helps him think.' Ngl, it was the first time someone just accepted that as a normal thing without asking a bunch of questions. It made me realize how rare it is to have a simple, no-pressure exchange about a coping method. Has anyone else had a random person just get it like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

lopez.brooke4d ago

My old mechanic noticed I always stood by the left wall in the waiting area. He just said the florescent lights over there were less harsh. That was it. I see it now with cashiers who let you bag your own groceries without comment, or neighbors who don't make small talk at the mailboxes. These tiny moments of quiet understanding in public feel like finding an open seat on a crowded bus. They don't fix the big problem, but they make the ride easier for a block or two.

leo_kelly4d ago

Maybe it's just people being polite, not really seeing you. Those moments can feel lonely too.