I think this is my personal sign that i have grown up. Restraint! The other end of the dialog was sitting there making wild inaccurate claims, patronizing me, and softly attacking me. Not once, not twice, but many times. For a solid half an hour. Two years ago i would have fired back at the first instance. But this time i remained quite. As the conversation grew longer, my internal conflict escalated: “Don’t take that! Type! Yell! Do something!” a voice inside me was shouting. But i remained quite. Let time show them the error of their ways.

I knew i had done nothing wrong. I knew it was not my mistake. The other end of the dialog was not my boss, so i did not stay quite out of fear, respect, or protocol.

I knew i could have talked back, for hours if necessary. But i also knew that discussion was futile. So i fought my inner demons and stayed quite. I showed restraint. I can not say that i am completely satisfied yet. Part of me still wants talk back. But i am generally happy with my decision: Restraint!