Take It On Tuesdays: I wanted to break his neck

Take It On Tuesdays is a weekly encouragement for you to either Take It or Take It On. You'll use both depending on the work situation. You may need to turn the other cheek or confront, surrender or stand your ground, step back or step up. Here's to knowing which and when, and having the courage to follow through.

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Todd was, by far, the most annoying co-worker I ever had. From my very first day as a laborer on the roofing crew he pushed me. Snide remarks about me going to college, harsh insults when I didn't know the names of materials or made mistakes, endless and unforgettable profanities about women.... He was that guy who could push until he sensed you might actually break his neck and then he'd quickly back down to avert the threat. 

The things is - and this is what kept me from actually breaking his neck - he needed help. Once I realized that his behavior came from a lifetime of dysfunction and abandonment, I began to soften. My hatred subsided. Was it easy to Take It? Never. But it got better. In fact, I don't think he knew what to do with being loved.

Todd needed something he'd never find through the only way he knew how to behave. That was the reality and I couldn't wait around for him to be respectable before being granted my care.

Take It when you run into Todd this week.