sheashannara

Years ago, I worked with 2 new dispatchers named Crystal and Tara. Now they couldn't be more different: Crystal was bubbly, sweet and quiet while Tara was a lil firecracker. I was interested in them both, but Tara was the only one who seemed interested back.

One day Tara was busting my chops as she did every day we worked together when I said, "Why can't you be more like Crystal? She's so quiet and kind and sweet."

The next day when I came in Tara was exactly like Crystal. She was quiet, demure, wasn't teasing me and acting hurt when I tried to tease her. Finally, she said, "I thought this was what you wanted, me to be like her."

I threw up my hands and said, "OK, fine! I don't want another Crystal, I want you to be YOU again!"

"Good," she said as she poked me in the chest hard with her finger. "And don't you ever say that to me again!"

I learned 2 lessons that day: don't compare people to others (especially if you're both interested in each other); and take people as they are, not as you'd like them to be.