Rise Above It

Unfortunately, yesterday I was confronted with a situation which was completely unexpected - a disagreement with an acquaintance. Our conversation began civilly but when I questioned something she had claimed I'd said earlier (her claim was inaccurate) it quickly slid downhill, and fast!

Despite having to listen to a barrage of abuse and then getting hung up on (!) I remained as calm as possible throughout - not an easy task when someone is attacking your integrity.

But although I would have loved to sling a few choice words back at her I am now pleased that I maintained my dignity. Sometimes saying nothing and letting someone finish their rant (because they're never going to listen to what you have to say anyway) is better than antagonising them.

Shocked by what I had just gone through I felt the need to share my story with anyone that would listen. And to my surprise, no one else was surprised! Not because they knew the person but because they had all gone through a similar situation before (one person said he had up to four phone calls like that per day!)

It got me thinking - its not that I (or the other people I was speaking to) deserved it. Rather that some people feel that they can justifiably speak to others in such a manner and it be ok. What it really amounts to is school yard bullying - and I'm amazed at how many people are using this tactic to get their way.

So what do you do if you're faced with a situation like this? Remain calm and not take it personally. Know your legal rights and stand your ground. For some of us (me included), it doesn't hurt to be reminded that you cannot satisfy everyone. Concentrate your efforts on those you can...