I work with a teacher who has some pretty rough edges. She's a bit tricky to get along with, and often says things that are blunt, brusque, and hurtful. I have tried to be friendly with her, but it is difficult as she doesn't seem to know how to be a friend. And since the things she says are so often unkind, sometimes I find it hard to even make the effort to be friends.
We were eating lunch earlier this week in the teachers' lounge, and this teacher was talking about her mother-in-law, a frequent topic of conversation for her. The two women do NOT get along, and I often bite my tongue as I listen to this woman complain and criticize. As she spoke about her mother-in-law, she turned unexpectedly to me and said something that caught me off guard.
"I have tried to be positive about her like you would be, Lynn, but I just can't do it. It doesn't work. I hate you, Lynn; you're always so happy."
Goodness! What brought that on? And how do you respond to someone when they have just said that they hate you??
Well, Sarah Ferguson, another teacher also in the room, knew how to. She looked across the table straight at me and then gently, but very firmly replied, "And that is what I love best about you, Lynn."
Thank you, Sarah. That meant more than you probably realize.
At the Machine Again
11 hours ago
2 comments:
I think the first teacher was trying to give you a [poorly delivered] compliment, and just failed. I'm sure she doesn't hate you, but what a nice gesture from Sarah! If someone tells me they hate me 'because I'm so nice', I will consider that a victory!
. . . or called me 'happy'. :)
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