Mean People

I've encountered mean people (border-line bullies or generally unhappy folks) in almost every job I've had.
 
Most people think high school ends when you graduate.
 
I've found: life is high school.
 
My mom would tell you I struggled with this in high school.
 
I've always had minimal tolerance for:
 
👎 Drama
 
👎 Popularity Contests
 
👎 Playing Favorites
 
👎 Disloyalty
 
👎 Cattiness
 
👎 Pitting People Against Each Other
 
👎 Using and then Losing People
 
It was hard in high school.
 
It is even harder now.
 
But, mean and unhappy people remain.  
 
And, I’ve learned, some of this is just human nature.
 
---
 
Also: don't get me wrong:
 
I am sure someone reading this will think,
 
"Emily was mean/rude/unkind to me once."
 
I'm sure I was.
 
I'm human,
 
And far from perfect.
 
---
 
But that doesn't mean I excuse it,
 
Or lack self-awareness when I slip into these weak moments,
 
Or even tolerate it.
 
---
 
By extending kindness,
 
By extending grace,
 
Even when those things are not given to me in return,
 
I am able to come out of difficult moments thinking:
 
I was true to myself, and
 
I am proud of how I handled myself.
 
---
 
Mean people are everywhere.
 
Even in grown-up, adult, professional environments.
 
That doesn’t mean we stoop to their level.
 
I cannot say enough for trying to kill ‘em with kindness anyway.  
 
#lawyerwellbeing #professionalwomen #legalissues