Learning Names

When SCDS weighed me down I worked hard to make it through my work days and create quality code. (Hi, my name is Rebekah and I am a computer programmer.) The social side of work fell through the cracks. I still talked to my coworkers and maintained good relationships but I didn’t really pay attention to them. That sounds kind of awful but when your head is full of pain it creates a fog that is the struggle of the day and there is little room left over for little things like learning the names of the people you talk to in the break room.

Now that surgery is over and I am feeling more aware I realized I talk to a lot of people who know (and seem to like me) and I have no idea what their names are. I’ve been told that I can just say “still recovering from surgery, what’s your name?” but I am SO SICK of being sick and having it be a reason for me to be less. Anyway, I can hack this. So I’ll guess at a name and look up their email to see if they have a user icon that includes their face. Or ask a friend who is in on this new task. It’s actually going really well. I’m enjoying learning all these names and like all these people.

The real point is that I am SICK of being sick. I just want people to see me as healthy. I feel healthier. I don’t want crutches (or walking sticks). I want to appear normal and I’m willing to put extra effort in to do so.

(Any random coworkers that may read my blog can help by having their own face as a user icon or when we’re talking and a third person joins the conversation saying “oh hey, Bryan!” as a hint. Or feel free to tease me and ask if I know your name. It can be a game! If I get it wrong I learn a new name!)