I've been labelled as "difficult" by a lot of associates (and a few family members as well) :)
It is amusing for me as I view myself as being persistent rather than stubborn, and having more faith in my judgement than being rigid.
I am also good at connecting with other "difficult" people because I understand where they are coming from. I was good at handling difficult clients or bosses because I could view them beyond their bad behavior; as people with a higher yardstick than most.
I don't want to confuse difficult with miserable (that's a whole different set of people, whose sole aim in life is to create more misery in their lives as well as others).
Difficult is that teacher who will keep sending you back until you get it right, that colleague who will keep giving you pain, if needed, for all the reports and information he needs to turn out a well rounded synopsis on challenges and opportunities in a given situation, is that boss who may be viewed as exceedingly hard to work with, because she views it a personal responsibility to give the client what he needs rather than wants! Difficult is the parent who will not make it easy for his child, the gym trainer who will not let you rest so that you can achieve your personal aim of losing weight or getting fit, that friend who will give you a piece of his mind when you're acting like a jerk because he cares or simply, a child who needs you to really "listen" because he has something important to tell you, like "I love you mom".
Difficult people have enriched my life, they may be hard to please teachers but the learning or take away is tremendous. And if you've been an attentive student, colleague, subordinate or parent, you will be rewarded with unflinching loyalty, the stuff legends are made of. :)
The next time you run into a poor lil difficult soul, give him a ear and some heartfelt affection and you may be showered with generosity and gratitude, the kind you may have only dreamed of.
Go ahead, make someone's day and tell them, it's ok, I like/love you for the way you are...
God bless you, keep shining happy people!
