The Ratio

I have recently found that I don't handle assholes very well. This makes me sad because I seem to encounter quite a few from day to day.  I let them affect me mentally.  One good lashing from one can send me into a tailspin where I feel like I cannot concentrate for an hour and potentially have to go outside and walk around for  a bit to shake it off.

There was a time when they never bothered me, and I need to somehow find my way back into that mode.

The best advice

For about four years around high school I worked at a local grocery store.  Starting out I was a bag boy, but in time worked just about every job in that place that didn't involve knives (although I can grind hamburger meat with the best of them).  The store manager when I started was a hard living, hard drinking, hardcore Jeff Gordon nascar fan who had been in the grocery biz for what seemed like his entire life.  He was awesome to work for.

I remember after one particularly testy encounter with a grumpy old man over the price of the store brand grape soda I lost my head.  If I remember correctly I went into the break room cursing up a storm and probably knocked a chair over or something.  Manager guy comes in, slams the door, and tells me to sit the hell down.  

manager: What's your problem boy!?!

me: That old man pissed me off.

manager: Why?!?

me: [imagine conversation about store brand grape soda prices]

manager: So what.  He's just an asshole.

me: Yeah but...

manager: Yeah but nothing.  He's an asshole.  Don't let assholes affect you.  Remember this, 3 out of 5 people you will encounter on any given day in your life is an asshole.  So assume everyone you meet is an asshole, that way the surprise ones will make your day.

From that point on I just let things roll off.  Whenever a customer approached me in the store, I was nice, but assumed that they were about to start bitching about the price of canteloupes or something else that I had absolutely no control over.  If they were nice... great.  If not... whatever.

Marking it down

Actually I'm not so sure that was the best advice.  Seems stressful to go through life assuming that everyone you come in contact with is going to be an asshole.  However, I have started marking down my daily asshole/non-asshole ratio in my trusty notebook.  I just want to see if that 3 out of 5 ratio is correct.  

If nothing else it might take my mind off the assholes.