I am well-known for my non-confrontational nature. Truly. I own a truck with at least 10 vertical scrapes along the passenger side front panel because the jackass who used to park next to me when I lived in an apartment in San Francisco would open the door to his huge van till it hit my car, and then slide his equally huge bulk out of the van, causing the door to dig these marks into my paint job. I knew he did it. I even saw him do it. Did I say anything? Did I do anything? Nope. I just got real mad, worried my (then)boyfriend, and plotted what I would do if ... if ... if I had any spine whatsoever.

So yeah. I don't pick fights with people. I rarely even tell them when I'm upset with them. Not only that, I get nervous and upset when other people do anything remotely confrontational that doesn't even involve me! I can't watch fighting on tv for very long.

These last few years have been a learning experience for me in the business world. For the first time, I have a retirement plan, I have responsibility, and I go to meetings. Meetings are tough for me sometimes. I still haven't learned to stand up for myself unless someone else has already made my point for me. And when there's confrontation, it can make me curl up in my chair and hide my head (not quite figuratively).

Even when there's no confrontation, I get stressed out by meeting interactions. The one action that most bothers me is talking over someone else. In my world, this is extremely rude and shows a lack of respect for others' ideas. And if the other person gets too upset, they might turn into Rambo.

Today I was in a meeting, and three of the 5 people talking would not allow anyone else to finish a sentence.

I'm still a little tense.