Does Anyone Know Where I Can Find T-Shirts That Say "That's How I Roll" and "Bite Me"?

I don't have much experience dealing directly with haters.

Bitter email, snail mail, phone calls, and comments? Plenty of experience dealing with that kind of animosity. There's something about an opinionated writer that annoys the weak minded and immature among us.

In person, though, I don't attract a whole lot of hate.

Amazing, but true.

Sure there are a few people, four or five tops, mostly distant relatives and in-laws, who aren't that thrilled to know me. I decided about a month ago that I would no longer spend another precious second talking to or interacting with such people. It's over. I'm done. I will not attend any more family functions, events, gatherings, conference calls, or awkward luncheons where they are present or involved. Cause life's too short.

Besides, do *you* like being around people who don't like you? Of course you don't. So why do it? Here's my answer: don't. Not for your kids, not for anyone. It ain't worth it.

To be clear, I'm not talking about people who are difficult or argumentative. That describes most of my friends and family. As a result, I enjoy a good row every now and then. Keeps me sharp.

I'm talking about people who actively dislike, who openly criticize, whose displeasure at your very existence shows on their face. It's so not fun being around those types.

Turns out, I work with those types.

This became clear to me the day of my Minus Three Stars Review when Reviewer #1 said, "I've asked around, Catherine, and this is the feedback I've received. You suck."

I'm paraphrasing.

Since it wasn't feedback from parents or students, and the reviewers themselves are only there half of the time or less, I naturally deduced that the feedback came from my co-workers.

I'm smart that way.

I was surprised, to say the least. Peer Review is fine, but no one asked me to review *them*. Of course, I would have said positive things. That's how I roll. I just wasn't asked. But apparently they were and the complaints made their way into a document that said I blow and my days are numbered.

Again, I'm paraphrasing.

Where was I? Oh yes, since that fateful day, the atmosphere at work has been overtly hostile.

You heard me. Nasty.

In all of my thirty-eight years, I've never worked in an environment where people so obviously dislike me.

Why all the hate? Why now?

My guess: they are angry I had the nerve to defend myself.

I defended myself at the Two Thumbs Down Review with my superiors and I defended myself here. (How'd they find my site? Gotta love Google.)

It would have been so much better for everyone if I had simply accepted the cross and allowed myself to be nailed to it.

But I didn't. I stuck up for myself and, for that, I'm dealing with hostility the likes of which I've never had to deal with before. For all my strength and conviction, hostility sure ain't a barrel of laughs.

Maybe this is what I'm supposed to learn - how to function, with some grace, around people who hate me.

Grace huh? Hmmmm.

Then I better not wear that "Bite Me" shirt.