Published: November 19, 2008

Lesson Learned on the Couch

I couldn’t sleep the other night. I don’t know why, but it was about 3:30 a.m. and my mind wouldn’t settle enough for me to fall into the bliss of another dream before the new day began.

So I grabbed a Coke, crawled to the couch, and snapped on the television. After flipping through a series of infomercials, I settled on an interview with an expert in DNA who was discussing the advances in technology that have changed crime scene investigations over the past 20 years.

And let me tell you, this guy was passionate about his field. He was animated and excited—his eyes were gleaming, his voice would rise as he made key points, he sat forward in his chair—and yet I was bored to tears! You see, he was so passionate that he forgot who his audience was and began talking at a level that was far beyond my ability to understand. I was lost in five minutes, and...