I've always been drawn to a quote by Marilyn Monroe that resonates with me:
“I'm selfish, impatient, and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control, and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.”
― Marilyn Monroe
There's a lot about me that's far from perfect, and I'm definitely a work in progress. What I find disheartening is when people feel the need to wear different masks for different occasions. I'm committed to being authentic, whether dealing with the head of a big company or someone at the lowest rung.
While many people showcase different versions of themselves to their bosses, parents, friends, or significant others, I stick to being just me. Sure, I adjust my language – no F-bombs around parents or little ones – but, apart from that (and I admit, I'm not perfect even at that), I couldn't juggle multiple personas even if I tried.
A recent trip to the grocery store brought an interesting encounter. A group of at least seven men in suits, with only one woman, caught my attention. Walking past them multiple times, I couldn't help but feel rubbed the wrong way. They blocked an entire aisle, seemingly oblivious to my slow-paced movement. When I finally found what I needed, one of the suited men stood directly in front of it. Irritated by their lack of situational awareness, I blurted out, "Just get out of my way." I recognize it wasn't the nicest response, but I was more inclined to appreciate a clerk with the sense to assist without hesitation.
My aspiration is to treat everyone with kindness, though I confess I have some work to do when it comes to dealing with managerial men in suits. While everyone deserves kindness, I find it challenging to extend empathy to those gentlemen. It's a personal growth area that I'm actively working on.
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