Daily Gratitude: One 2 minute interaction taught me more about communication than I’d learned in school. When I say the word “iris” what do you think of? What pops into my mind immediately is that part of the eye called the iris. This is understandable since I’m in medicine. But there were two other people in this “iris” conversation. One thought we were discussing flowers and the other was convinced the discussion was about some computer system. None of us had bothered to define the term we were considering so the other two were left staring blankly. This was the best example of not knowing what playing field the other person is on. In your daily conversations whether they are big or small, important or not important, make sure you define the topic you want to be discussing. Give the other person the best chance to understand and learn from you, rather than giving you that “deer in the headlights” look. When engaging with another person picture an iris and that will remind you to make sure your definitions are understood by the other.