It never ceases to amaze me—the size of some people’s egos. Even when they know they’ve screwed up, been rude, dismissive, or downright obnoxious (intentional or not), the word “sorry” just doesn’t seem to exist in their vocabulary.
Women especially—yes, I said it—can sometimes carry egos so inflated that instead of owning up to their behavior, they deflect, change the subject, or pretend as if nothing ever happened. And that, to me, is more damaging than the offense itself.
How do you deal with this?
There was a time when rude, manipulative, or passive-aggressive behavior bothered me deeply. It would sit with me, replay in my head, and affect my peace. But then something changed. Maybe it was turning 60. Maybe it was living through grief, loss, and real-life challenges. But suddenly, my body didn’t have the hormones—or the energy—to care anymore.
One of the best coping mechanisms I’ve discovered is simple: act like they don’t exist. There’s power in silence. Peace in disengagement. Respect in walking away without the need to prove anything.
I have so much more admiration for the person who can look me in the eye and say, “I messed up. I’m sorry,” than for those who shoot off at the mouth, retreat in guilt, and later try to smooth it over with fake smiles and selective memory.
Here’s the truth: people rarely change. So stop expecting them to. You have two choices—tolerate their nonsense or close the door and move on. And sometimes, swinging that door shut is the most freeing thing you can do for yourself.
