How to Conquor that Jerk!

There’s one in every class, department, and family tree. Somebody is going to be the least happy most imposing person in any room. Be that as it may, things don’t get ugly until they personally dump on you. That’s when things get bad.

If you don’t say anything and let their first trespass pass, they invariably see you as the lowest point of resistance and repeat their ever intensifying attacks in your direction.

The worst part is when you start second guessing yourself. The worst part is when their crap actually burrows into your emotional and mental well being. You start asking yourself if you really are as stupid and incompetent as they make you feel. You start spinning your wheels wondering what the heck you did to “attract” this jerk into your life.


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It’s like that Seinfeld where Elaine wanted to date this one guy who was called the “worst breaker upper” just to see what made him so horrible to break up with. She goes out with him a couple of times and doesn’t see how this short ugly man could possibly ruin so many women’s lives. He finally breaks up with Elaine. On the way out, he mutters at Elaine under his breath, “See ya later, Ms. Big Forehead.”

The entire rest of the show was Elaine asking everyone who crossed her path if they thought she had a big big forehead. That one little remark insidiously crept in and undermined Elaine’s entire self worth.

With all the ancient sociological wisdom of humanity, there’s got to be some simple secret solution to destroying that jerk at work (family or school). There is… it’s in the form of a Dao saying, “To a dog, all are dogs. To Buddha, all are enlightened.” What the heck does THAT mean???