I’ve never been called Ms Optimist or anything, usually you could say I call a glass half empty and set about draining the other half (mostly to avoid disappointment), but I’m basically a cheerful person who tries to look for the good in everyone and sees no harm in smiling at strangers and being the nice polite Canadian that I was raised up to be.
That is, until proven otherwise. I don’t consider myself negative, more like realistic. I’ve been amazed however how negative people can be and how totally draining they are to be around. The older I get the less patience I have with them.
Start with the Kelowna whiners, that tone, that perfectly nasal tone that a true whiner takes years to perfect, I will never ever hear the word Paprika without hearing that voice.
The lady in line ahead of me at the grocery store the other day who just felt the need to complain about ever aspect of her experience there and really thought I could give a rats ass.
She just geared me up to defend the poor cashier who was new on the job and just doing her best. When I get wound up it can get ugly. Sometimes I can just say a nice polite, “Well she’s new and it’s always hard to be new on the job” the other day it was a “Have YOU never been new on a job? I would think people could muster up enough kindness and understanding to cut the poor lady some slack” These comments usually get me a quick smile and eye contact with the cashier or whatever target there is (waitress, service person… whatever) and sometimes deflect the person’s anger to me… cool, I can take it. Better them than me I say.
Of course my EXTRA niceness doesn’t trickle down to car salesmen… can’t stand them as a rule. Again I will start with a nice “No thanks” when offered assistance, but if they follow me around anyway, I will tell them firmly to “please go away”. If they still follow I will walk out and be rude right back.
Of course I’m also REALLY bad about hiding my feelings. Everything, simply everything shows on my face. I would be so bad at poker, even if I had a clue how to play it. I always feel eyes shift to me when someone says something to see if my reaction is what theirs is, or just to see it, if they will find it amusing. I’m trying harder to keep a neutral expression, but I will be honest, I don’t think it’s gonna happen.
Anyway, of course there are times when a temper is shorter or you’re in a hurry or people you know or work with can annoy you but maaaaaannnnn nobody is going to want to be around a toxic bitcher. Lighten up.
*steps off soapbox*
Posted by americanuck
