Do you talk back to the things you work with?

I spent most of my career treating wood as something you submit to — listen hard enough and it tells you where it wants to crack, where to brace. Lately I catch myself answering it instead, asking for things. I've started noticing the same conversation in code and in the way people argue about policy online. Curious if anyone else has a craft where the material — whatever it is — starts to feel like it's asking you questions back.