Beneath a waiting room couch, we assume a rectangular shape is an electrical receptacle, handily concealed.

When someone comes along asking if anyone has seen a missing cell phone, that same rectangular shape takes on new meaning.

Indeed, it was a cell phone.

When the first person strolled through the room, I assumed she was looking for a forgotten scarf or glove.

It wasn’t until a second person returned to the couch saying — to no one in particular, “She’s lost her cell phone,” that the rectangular shape took on new meaning for me.

Sometimes it’s useful to reveal to others that you’re looking for something. Not only might others see what you don’t see, they might not even realize it until you speak up.