Little things...

Around 8 years back. Was in front of a firing squad....
Being asked questions:
"How are you sure it won't break x, y and z?"
"What if it breaks x, y and z?"
"How blah blah blah"
"Why blah blah"
"When blah"
...
..
.

"Are you sure??"

"Why don't you go and come back in a few weeks when you are doubly sure??"

I remember starting to get frustrated. Was kinda ready to blow up. We were slow, a bit too slow maybe but we were thorough and this had already dragged on for a few weeks too long.

I look at the guy who was facilitating this session. He was not the one asking the questions. He was just facilitating the review. So, I look at him. My eyes saying, "What the f&^#*^# Jim." "This is #&*^&*% BS, Jim!!!" "Can you help me out here???"

He looks at me with his calming eyes, points his open palms at me - asking me with his eyes and hands to stay calm and that he will take care of the irrationality in the room. He comes to me after the session, tells me that he agrees that it was kinda absurd and that he will take care of it. I don't quite recall how it was resolved or whether the process improved later but I do still remember his gesture.

Did not work much with him since then but I can still look at his calming eyes, calming me when I was losing my cool.

Thank you Jim. RIP....you will be missed.