The invisible man

Have you ever had the experience in which you seemed to be invisible to those around you? It might show up as one of the following comments: “I didn’t see you there” or “I don’t remember you at that event.” I recall putting my name in to the waiting list at a restaurant. I then sat patiently for my name to be called. Eventually I noticed that people who came in after I did were being seated. I approached the hostess regarding this and saw that my name was still on the waiting list above theirs as she crossed their names off. Her response was, “I didn’t see your name.” No apology. What mattered more than the oversight was the feeling that accompanied it. The feeling wasn’t very positive. I wondered if there had been times when I had not noticed someone who warranted my attention. Today I do my best to acknowledge people in my presence. That may be a cashier, a customer service representative on the phone, or the person who cuts my hair. Each of these is a person who deserves being recognized. If the person is wearing a name badge, I address them by their name. It makes a difference both in their day and in mine. How do you acknowledge the people you interact with to avoid them being invisible to you?