Here's a little something about me: as good as I am with words and the verbal parry, if I'm not expecting something, I can be very slow thinking on my feet. Someone will say something and I will go into vapor lock. It can be hours, days or even weeks before I realize "Wait a minute..." When I was in my teens and twenties, I would let it go. I had the attitude that if I didn't say it at the time, I had missed my chance. Now, not so much. Now, I am perfectly comfortable going to the person and asking to revisit the conversation. This comfort, however, hasn't come in time for me to revisit all the conversations.
Which is the Sunday Poll Question...
Question ~ If you could go back and say something to someone, what would it be?
Pobble Answer ~ I would go back to the two other directors of the organization I worked for in Colorado and say, to Tami: Acknowledging the possibility of something is not the same thing as assuming that something is fact. Get over it. And yes, I did bring him to you for training so don't put it on me that he wasn't trained well. All I did was set him up with paperwork. After he got the paperwork, I brought him to your office and told you he was ready to be trained. Get over it. And to Sandra: You gave us personal days just yesterday. Don't get upset with her when she calls in and uses one. No, she shouldn't have to lie and tell you she's sick. "I'm taking a personal day" is a perfectly good call-out when we have just been told we have personal days.
Wow. It feels good to finally say those, even if it's not to the women themselves. Try it. ;)
Your answer ~
Those are Pobble Thoughts. That and a buck fifty will get you coffee.
16 comments:
I had to search really hard, and to tell you the truth, I've decided that there is no one in my past or present who's negative actions deserve my concern or retort.
The people who care and matter to me come to me. I'm not going to worry about the rest. Life is too short for that.
But a few months ago, I would have gone on and on and on. But I've recently let a lot things go.
Out of many decades, I would rather remember those times when I HAVE said what ever it was. And there are some...
i so totally know the answer to this one! i would go back to 3rd grade and tell that stupid substitute teacher that i wasn't one of the girls that was causing trouble and that no, i wasn't going to apologize for something i didn't do even if i had to stand in the back of the class all day long!
I'd have said much the same thing I said to my mother in August, only years and years sooner. Had I known that the sky wouldn't fall and that I'd feel the weight of the world lifted from my shoulders, I'd have held her accountable for her actions much sooner.
This might not qualify as a conversation, per se - but I think it counts in the spirit of the poll.
There is a lady who works in the same general parking area that I do. Twice now, I have been driving down the road to the parking structure and this blonde woman bolts out in front of me. From in between cars, and seriously - no looking either way on her part. There are crosswalks not 50 feet away from her both directions. Nevertheless, she continues to flail, yell after me and flip me off as if I've purposely attempted to run her down. She's not a street crazy, I know that much.
Someday, SOMEDAY, I hope to have her do this again. Because I want to smile and wave and wave and smile some more. I want to clap my hands and yell HOW YA DOIN?
I don't understand why people do dangerous things like this and then yell at those of us caught off guard by it.
To zoooom, may I just say that I feel you pain and I have had people do exactly the same thing to me. If not for the fact that it would ruin my car....
As for me, I can think of an ex-coworker whom I would want to instruct in the concept of speaking in confidence with someone. I learned from Monkey-Boy that the concepts of honor and trust are suspect when you walk into the workplace.
I've gotten much better at this as the years progress, however, if I could go back it would be to re-visit a few break-up conversations, which rarely turn out the way you envision them.
But as for quick come-backs and sarcastic line readings, I'm just fine as I store those away and horde them like crazy.
When I do think of the perfect thing to say to someone at the time, it always seems like it was a little too hurtful. So I refrain. These days at work, I let policy guide my every response. It sounds hollow but it keeps one safe in a world where you can get into a lot of trouble if you discipline someone the wrong way. It sounds like sticking to policy would have been a good idea for these two of whom you speak. But on a personal level, I have never had any trouble saying whatever I thought needed saying - which isn't always a good thing.
Oh, so many occasions, so little time!
Like Krystal, though, I'm trying (it's so hard!) to let that stuff go.
But there ARE times...oh boy, are there ever!
(must. let. go!)
Krystal ~ Nicely done. Letting go isn't always easy. That was actually the point of this post; so I could let these go myself.
Appsrus ~ Oh, what I wouldn't have given to be a fly on the wall for some of those times.
Lovely Cats ~ Of Course! (damn her...)
Jaded ~ Amazing how the planet doesn't fly off its axis at moments like that, isn't it?
Zooom ~ That *totally* fits the spirit of the poll! Of course, you have to report back if you ever get to do it.
Cam Pike ~ Yeah...there are a few things *I'd* like to say to Monkey Boy on your behalf. Southern charm, my friend. Southern charm. >:)
$$ ~ Ah yes, the dreaded break-up conversations. They don't tend to go the way we want them to, do they? I think I'll start hording come-backs as well. Nice idea.
GOML! ~ Following policy tends to be a good idea, especially when working in an educational environment.
Tai ~ Cross over to the light. Krystal can be a beacon for both of us.
This turned into a blog post and a rant more than a comment.
http://graziellasdogbed.blogspot.com
Never one for a quick comeback, I have WAY too many times where I'd like to go back and re-do a conversation and say the things I should have said.
Come to think of it, there are WAY too many conversations where I should have kept my mouth shut, too!
Let's face it, the only *perfect* conversations happen in books, movies and plays.
(Okay, here's one - after spending months working 80 hour weeks, I had my evaluation with my boss and I told him that I felt that I was being taking advantage of. His response? "Well, I hope you don't think that I'm taking advantage of you!" In real life, I didn't say a word. In my re-do, I'd tell him, Well, yes. You are taking advantage of me. Who else do you think I could have possibly meant? Dumbass.)
Crow ~ Hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha. ROFLMAO Yes, but then what would we use as a reference when we need one?
Graziella ~ ooo! I'm on my way (and I bet I know the answer, too!)
Nemeria ~ *gasp of shock* Dumbass indeed!
Real Live Lesbian ~ First, welcome to Pobble Thoughts. Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again. Second, I wonder if the guy *ever* got a clue, 'cause if he hadn't by 1983... And third, if you're comfortable writing the word out, fuck is an absolutely appropriate word here in this blog.
Oh, I can think of a few choice words I'd say to a couple of nasty people I know, because a tiny little fragment of my heart has wizened into a dried, bitter husk, and my mind keeps a talon-like grip on all the wrongs (percieved and real) tallied in past years.
Yoga helps. So does tequila.
Wolfgrrrl ~ There isn't much tequila doesn't help. ;)
Tequilla makes my clothes come off...
So does Bear...
And come to think of it, both events make my belly expand. Hmmmm...
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