So part of the struggle of relocating and making a fresh start is creating a new social circle. While I did move back to my hometown, most of the people that I knew that used to live here don’t anymore. Not a big surprise considering it has been six years since high school and the natural path of life is that most people move away from where they grew up.
I will admit it took me a while to be motivated enough to get out and make new friends. For the first two months I just felt like it was nice to be home and spend time with my parents, seeing that I did not see them much while I was in college. Then, when I had finally had enough, about two months after moving home, we had freak weather and pretty much could not leave the house for the whole month of December. Or at least that’s what it felt like.
Then January came. A new year, a fresh start. “This year is going to be great!” I told myself. A friend and former co-worker was moving into the area, along with his new wife a few months into the year. I was so excited; my social life was back on track. They were great and introduced me to people that they new in the area that were my age, as well as in the same place in life as me: a single, twenty-something, career-oriented, person. Most of my friends in my former location were a litter farther along in life (married with kids on the way) or still in college. My new friends seem to be going through similar situations as me.
In a recent conversation with a friend, I encounter a mirroring situation going on at work. The problem being: an annoying co-worker. While our situations were different, to me it asked the question: how do you deal with a person that just does not quite get that they need to knock off what they are doing?
I really wonder if this is just the issue has anything to do with the fact that I am some what “green” in my work place. I also seem to feel that the problem be a combination of the person taking advantage of the fact that I am young, small (I’m only 5’1”), and a female. I know that it sounds silly. I am not normally one that thinks people are thinking of me this way, but when I am working with middle-ages, 6’ plus men, I can’t help but consider it.
My main problem is with one person who continues to think it is funny to pound on the side of my cubicle and startle me while I am deeply involved in my work. Every time they do it they say, “I need to wake you up.” The first time I thought ok, I can see how you would think that is funny, even though I don’t. But then they continue to do it, again and again. I tend to be someone of a passive person and laugh things off, but most recently I had the temptation to yell, “knock it off jack a**.”
I’m feeling really conflicted about this. I have to work with this person everyday and may need for them to prioritize my work over others. By telling them to “quit it” are they going to deliberately put off my work? How do I tell then without other people in the office hearing? Is there a way to do it politely without hurting their feelings?
I know that these questions seem a little silly, but I feel like this is a whole new territory for me. I feel the need to tread lightly. I guess this is just a new experience for a twenty-something.
I will admit it took me a while to be motivated enough to get out and make new friends. For the first two months I just felt like it was nice to be home and spend time with my parents, seeing that I did not see them much while I was in college. Then, when I had finally had enough, about two months after moving home, we had freak weather and pretty much could not leave the house for the whole month of December. Or at least that’s what it felt like.
Then January came. A new year, a fresh start. “This year is going to be great!” I told myself. A friend and former co-worker was moving into the area, along with his new wife a few months into the year. I was so excited; my social life was back on track. They were great and introduced me to people that they new in the area that were my age, as well as in the same place in life as me: a single, twenty-something, career-oriented, person. Most of my friends in my former location were a litter farther along in life (married with kids on the way) or still in college. My new friends seem to be going through similar situations as me.
In a recent conversation with a friend, I encounter a mirroring situation going on at work. The problem being: an annoying co-worker. While our situations were different, to me it asked the question: how do you deal with a person that just does not quite get that they need to knock off what they are doing?
I really wonder if this is just the issue has anything to do with the fact that I am some what “green” in my work place. I also seem to feel that the problem be a combination of the person taking advantage of the fact that I am young, small (I’m only 5’1”), and a female. I know that it sounds silly. I am not normally one that thinks people are thinking of me this way, but when I am working with middle-ages, 6’ plus men, I can’t help but consider it.
My main problem is with one person who continues to think it is funny to pound on the side of my cubicle and startle me while I am deeply involved in my work. Every time they do it they say, “I need to wake you up.” The first time I thought ok, I can see how you would think that is funny, even though I don’t. But then they continue to do it, again and again. I tend to be someone of a passive person and laugh things off, but most recently I had the temptation to yell, “knock it off jack a**.”
I’m feeling really conflicted about this. I have to work with this person everyday and may need for them to prioritize my work over others. By telling them to “quit it” are they going to deliberately put off my work? How do I tell then without other people in the office hearing? Is there a way to do it politely without hurting their feelings?
I know that these questions seem a little silly, but I feel like this is a whole new territory for me. I feel the need to tread lightly. I guess this is just a new experience for a twenty-something.
