Crossing nice people (part 2)

 DISCLAIMER: still not a reference to anyone I know now.

Part 1

     Eventually, after having to smack enough chronic line-crossers in the face with shovels, I did figure out that I do not owe it to anyone to be that nice and accommodating. Allowing people to cross your lines, however, is only part of the problem. Another part is figuring out where your lines are and which ones you really care about if they're crossed. 

     When I was younger, I had a plethora of lines and - now to my regret - I was inconsistent in defending them. I could blame it on bad days, wavering self-esteem, changing ideals, what have you, but ultimately it was just that I didn't have very concrete lines or consistent consequences. 

Crossing nice people (part 1)

DISCLAIMER, because I know you guys: No, this is not a reference to anyone currently in my life. 

      When I was younger, I had a chronic issue with giving people 2nd, 3rd, even 154th chances. As a kid, we're taught to be nice, be forgiving, turn the other cheek, but I would let people get away with things that I really shouldn't have. For the most part, people - or at least a certain type of person - will keep pushing if you let them get away with something once, long past when it becomes obvious that pushing is leading to a problem. After all, they got away with it once, twice, a hundred and fifty-four times... why not keep going?

Sylvia Bishop Chapter 3 and work encounters of some kind

Chapter 3: Link

     It's been an odd week here. I had to physically go in to work twice, having only been in once in the past year. My boss, who has been a pandemic denier and not terribly aware of personal space in the past, was quite happy to keep his distance both times, even when I needed to show him how to change the toner on the printer. He has also started saying thank you and that he appreciates my work, which is completely out of character. Makes you ponder the question: if someone who you know to be difficult to work with really was replaced by a pod person, would you report it, or just be happy that their replacement is nicer? 

     Unfortunately, one of those visits to the office included a possible covid exposure. One of my coworkers has mutliple young children at home, so has been coming in to the office every day to get some peace and quiet to work in. They were not there when I went in, but they called me while I was there and asked me to deal with something on their desk. A few hours later, HR sent an email saying that "someone" who was usually in the office every day had tested positive, but don't worry, they stayed home today! Thankfully, I follow mask, no face touching, and handwashing recommendations to the letter, so hopefully nothing will come of it, but I am unappreciative of the general timeline there. 

Working from home:

      Had a conversation with my dad yesterday about the pandemic and staying at home. He claims to be an introvert, but he requires far more social interaction than I do. Our discussion about how the work-from-home situation due the pandemic is going prompted this: