When someone interacts with us, when they stick their proverbial nose in our business – is there any way to take it than personally?
How thick is our skin?
And should we need thick skin?
I don’t think it has anything to do with skin thickness – but mostly about two things: people we hang out with and how we react to things.
No matter how inane or insane they might be, whatever unfair or outrageous things they say or do, how we react is all on us. I might mingle with fools and deal with their stupid moments – but how I react is on me.
So, given that thinking, it isn’t two things.
It’s one thing.
My thing.
My ‘how I react’ thing. I’ve been watching that ‘react thing’ more lately. I’ve had some really great opportunities to observe idiots in action, and observing my ‘reaction to idiots’ in action. In one case, I think the label shifted – and it was suddenly me who was being the idiot. Big idiot. Momentarily wacky idiot. Then I got a grip on my horses and re-established my equilibrium. No longer the idiot, I went about my business with a less reactionary attitude. That idiot is off my radar screen, but I know (they always are) there will be another idiot coming along soon.
I’ll make sure it isn’t me …
Maybe.
If there is a way I can learn from and leverage this learning – then it has value. If not, it’s just so much wasted air, wasted energy. I don’t think I have time for that …
Thanks for reading. I appreciate feedback, pro and con, and suggestions to help improve this column and this website are always welcomed - usually published the following day under COMMENTS RECEIVED.
