Nicknames. It may seem trivial, but what someone is called, and the motivation behind the tag, can have a significant impact on the way someone feels. Nicknames can spark a feeling of warmth, comfort, and perhaps nostalgia as well if they're old nicknames. Perhaps it's something a parent called you when you were a child and they were playing with you. Hearing the nickname used can bring happy memories flooding back. It works the other way, too, though. If someone calls you by a nickname that the school bully used, you may feel fear or nausea. Whether good or bad, the way you're addressed can have a strong impact on your mood.
The other thing that struck me in this episode was a quote from Booth's grandfather: "He's big and strong, but he's gonna need someone. Everyone needs someone." I thought this was beautiful. It doesn't matter if someone's strong and can look after him or herself, they still need support. Everyone does. That means it's not a weakness to ask for help, or to want to be held. Everyone does.
