I’ve been musing on this recently, after a conversation with a co-worker about phrases that one uses constantly but aren’t always appropriate.
We work in the area of providing healthcare for homeless people and part of the training for those doing direct services is to never ask “How are you?” or “How’s it going?”. My co-worker forgot this and was promptly snarled at by a client, rather justifiably. It was a good reminder and he did apologise later and she’s never done that again.
I’m trying to also stop saying, “Do you need help with that?” and instead ask, “Would you like some help?”, as I feel that’s friendlier.
Do you have any habits you’re trying to break, verbal or otherwise? How difficult has it been for you?
I once gave some money to a homeless person and they were really sweet and grateful and I told them to have a good evening, what a prick! Still cringe when I think about it
I’ve been trying not to say this to the elderly lady I visit!
If I ask her how she is or how her day has been I always get a very negative answer (tbh she’s very negative about everything) and I always feel bad cos obviously her week has been shit. She’s done the same 3 things she does every week and she’s lonely and bored.
It is SO HARD to stop saying something you say in almost every other greeting interaction though. It just automatically comes out.
SAME! I’ve started saying ‘I hope things get better for you’ but I still feel like an arsehole after every interaction I ever have with a homeless person.
I think a lot of people will honestly just appreciate somebody caring and taking an interest, I’m sure they can read and understand when the sentiment comes from a kind place. Still makes me cringe though
