"You look tired."

This was how a conversation with one of my colleagues, Dominic, began earlier in the week. Rightfully so, as sleep is a luxury I cannot afford these days. I don't know how anyone else feels when someone makes a comment such as this, but I was relieved and happy. As a matter of fact, I told Dominic that this was the nicest thing he could have said to me.

I know this may sound odd, since "tired" can — and in my case, does — mean that I am looking a bit haggard, and that the bags underneath my eyes could be used for a two week vacation in the Rockies in January. So why did I take this as a compliment? Simple. It means that there are people that take the time to assess other people's conditions.

It means that some people do in fact realize that I am not Superman, and that I get fatigued. It means that there are people that realize that I am human, and am susceptible to the same flaws as the rest of the population — if you can even call fatigue a flaw. (I don't.)

Of course, the fact that Dominic said this does not come as a shock, as he is one of the more sympathetic people I have met since moving to NYC.

I am just happy anyone noticed at all.