Wednesday Real Talk

Acknowledgment Goes a Long Way

Have you ever reached out to someone about something important to you and walked away wondering if they even heard you?

Maybe you sent a message. Asked a question. Shared a concern. Or told them something you were excited about.

And the response—or the lack of one—left you feeling dismissed.

That feeling can stay with you. Especially when you’re already overwhelmed and reaching out because you need some support.

Today, I experienced what good communication can feel like.

As I prepare for my upcoming hip surgery, I’ve been communicating with my hip surgeon’s office, my physical therapy scheduler, and my primary care doctor. There are forms to complete, appointments to coordinate, referrals to send, and questions that need answers.

And today, people responded. They explained. They worked through things with me and followed through.

Let me tell you… that makes a difference.

My primary care doctor completed my leave paperwork with me during our virtual appointment. My surgeon’s office sent my new physical therapy referral and clarified when I should begin. My physical therapy scheduler responded to my questions so we could work toward getting the appointments straight.

I didn’t have to sit there wondering, Did anyone get my message? Do they understand what I need? What am I supposed to do next?

There was communication I could actually do something with.

My daughter is picking up a new prescription for me after she gets off work. That’s another part of my day where someone heard what I needed and is helping me get it handled.

And then my grandbaby shared some wonderful news: she got accepted into the college of her choice for the fall semester! 🥳

Now that deserves acknowledgment, too. Excitement. Questions. A moment to let her know Grandma is listening and proud!

Because acknowledgment isn’t only needed when something is wrong. We need people to hear our joy, too.

Today reminded me how much good, clear, engaging communication can change the way a day feels. I still had a lot to handle, but I felt supported while handling it.

Many times, I deal with people who don’t feel supported or heard. Sometimes they’ve asked the same question more than once. Sometimes they don’t understand the next step. Sometimes they’re frustrated before our conversation even begins because they’ve spent so much time trying to get someone to respond.

And I think we can carry that same frustration into any area of life.

Our relationships. Our families. Our friendships. Our workplaces.

How many conversations go sideways because one person is trying to say, “This matters to me,” and the other person never acknowledges it?

You can be speaking and still feel completely alone in a conversation.

Maybe some of it comes from this fast, loud world we live in. People are moving quickly, with external and internal distractions competing for their attention.

The phone is buzzing. There’s another task waiting. Someone is talking while we’re already thinking about what we need to do next—or what we’re going to say when they finally stop.

I have to check myself, too.

Am I listening to understand? Did I respond to what they actually said? Or did I move right past the part that mattered to them?

We need to stop. Breathe. Take a moment to be fully present, especially when someone is sharing something important.

We may not have an immediate answer. We may not be able to fix the situation. We may even disagree.

But we can still say, “I hear you.”

We can ask a question. Let them finish. Tell them we received their message. Give them a realistic idea of when we can respond—and then follow through.

And if we don’t have the space for that conversation right now, we can communicate that instead of leaving someone guessing.

“I want to give this my attention. Can we talk when I’m finished with this?”

Then make room for the conversation.

Acknowledgment has to mean something beyond a quick response we have no intention of honoring.

It’s also a give-and-take situation. We want to be heard, and we have to make room to hear someone else. We want clear communication, and we have to be willing to communicate clearly.

That’s where those win-wins begin to build. When we understand what matters to each other, we have a better chance of finding a way forward together.

Today, I felt the benefits of that.

And I’m grateful.

Who in your life might be waiting for you to acknowledge something they’ve shared?

A concern? A need? An accomplishment?

Take a moment. Your response could mean more than you realize.

Real Talk with Lady Flava 🌻

From Flava in Her Tower 🌻