I squeezed into the empty chair between two people at the long table. We all had plates recently filled at the conference cafeteria.... high end food at a pricey training on Nonviolent Communication. I had dubiously scooped up a white ghost of a poached egg floating around in a tub of hot water, and even more wonderingly watched the ghost's head jiggle and wobble as I walked to my seat.
After sitting down, I stopped. I like to quiet my mind before eating, so I took a slow, silent breath - as the woman across the table from me smiled and said "Finally! Someone REALLY knows how to poach an egg!"

O.K.

I took another breath and smiled back. "You really like your eggs cooked - like ---this." (Yes, and all around me laughter broke out and one fellow said "And you are wondering if you will be able to eat yours!")

Its amazing how stating opinions and preferences as facts can lead to the building of walls and fences between us.