I am in the middle of my 6th trip and this one has been a doozy. I’m not going to go into detail as it’s really no ones business but as my title suggests some things happened that were not so pleasant, emotions were shared and I some how was planted at the center.  

What I will say about the event is that it took two other adults to say I was being bullied for it to truly sink in that I had in fact been bullied.

What this raised though are thoughts about reputation, a persons character and in a very real way, how differently we all think. 

Aftermath of the incident left me thinking that I know who I am and if others listen to gossip and don’t give me the benefit of the doubt to show them who I am as appose to who they’ve heard I am then they are truly missing out on knowing me. This speaks both professionally and personally. 

My final note, the book How To Win Friends and Influence People helped me more than I can say. Don’t ever argue or tell someone they are wrong. You can’t fight fire with fire. Some people want you to fight back to prove you are a fighter, don’t give them the satisfaction, but find the intelligent way of standing up for yourself where you are being true to who you are. Also, as a good friend of mine says, you just have to laugh, and pay attention when bullies talk so you can have an intelligent response.