Have you ever been in a situation when you were doing something that seemed to be quite normal… but judging from the reactions of others, you realized it wasn’t?

That’s what I encountered last week. With the end of the year approaching, we decided to switch dental insurance plans. There were a number of offices on the new plan, so I decided to check them out. I called to see how promptly they answered the phone, how friendly they were and to ask a few questions. Then, I picked my top three and paid an in-person visit. I walked in the door and took note of the clients in the waiting room, the décor, the attitudes of the people who worked in the reception area.

Then I stopped a moment and felt the energy of the place — relaxed, frantic, annoyed? Finally, I walked up to the receptionist and asked what to me was a reasonable question. I told her we were switching insurance companies and that I was considering their office, and could I take a look at one of the empty dental examination rooms? She looked at me as if I’d just asked for all their money! With suspicion, she replied that no, I couldn’t see one of the rooms, and why did I want to see it, anyway?

Therein lies the misunderstanding. To me, it made perfect sense to see the examination room to assist in my decision between offices. I already had my ideal in mind. A large window to look out of, soft music and hygienists who looked happy to be there. When I’m in a dentist’s chair, it’s a real benefit to have a bright, uplifting atmosphere. A small, dark room with stale air and no cheer is not where I want to have my teeth worked on. If I don’t have a choice, I accept what I need to. But when there’s a choice, I take comfort and atmosphere into consideration. After all, why not take care of myself in the best possible way I can? Why not get the extra bonus of a woodsy view during my anesthesia shot rather than a yellowed, peeling poster of tooth decay?

So many of us feel our environment isn’t important, and yet it impacts our moods and energy on many different levels. Think of the different places where you spend your time (home, office, nail salon, dentist) and see if they are supporting you — or something to be tolerated? I’ve happily settled on my new dentist office and, while I don’t imagine a trip there will be akin to going to a spa, I do know it’s a fit that will make it a more pleasant experience. In a small way, I’ve uplifted the quality of my life.