The last couple weeks I had the chance to work with police and military officers. I was the only woman on the team and found myself picked on from pretty much the get-go. One man especially kept making fun of my use of "I think." You see, he wanted an absolute response to his questions - something I actually couldn't give. Believe me when I say he really irked me that first day!
Later on that week, we had meetings with some colleagues of mine, including some female members of staff. When I asked them what they'd thought of the police officers, they all said the same thing: those guys were humorless! They only thought of work and nothing else.
Turns out I couldn't disagree more.
Turns out I couldn't disagree more.
You see, something happened along the way. I started playing along, answering back, making fun of their mannerisms or their lack of communication skills...and our relationship shifted. Maybe I ended up being just one of the guys, or maybe they'd been thinking I was different than how I really am (I appear nice but I'm not a push-over, especially at work). I'm not sure what really happened but it did, and boy did I start having fun after that!
When that one man, who at first I hadn't liked at all, started laughing with me, "the week from hell" suddenly became a lot more fun. It became a game actually in which I tried to make him forget his badass image (imagine a 6'2 guy wearing a dark suit and an earpiece, standing at attention, a frown on his face and a stare that could kill -- seriously, I have pics!). If I hadn't tried to push past that image, I'd have missed out big time.
I guess it's the same for everybody. If you don't take the time to get to know someone, if you only stick to their appearance or the way they portray themselves to the world, then what's the point? After all, even real life Alphas can be misunderstood. Who'd have thought?
Most of my heroes are Alphas, and yet I hadn't truly met one before (hey, I'm a writer -- I have a great imagination). It was quite a revelation, and let me tell you, these men are so going to end up in a book! Possibly a whole series, as a matter of fact.
I'll work extra hard at describing that smirk that is unlike any I'd ever seen before (as if he knew everything about everything and wouldn't you like to know too?) or how when an Alpha to the core lets loose, you better beware. I'm happy to say that by the end of their visit, I quite happily hit them whenever they bugged me too much. After all, what's the point of being the only woman if you can't make up the rules?
When that one man, who at first I hadn't liked at all, started laughing with me, "the week from hell" suddenly became a lot more fun. It became a game actually in which I tried to make him forget his badass image (imagine a 6'2 guy wearing a dark suit and an earpiece, standing at attention, a frown on his face and a stare that could kill -- seriously, I have pics!). If I hadn't tried to push past that image, I'd have missed out big time.
I guess it's the same for everybody. If you don't take the time to get to know someone, if you only stick to their appearance or the way they portray themselves to the world, then what's the point? After all, even real life Alphas can be misunderstood. Who'd have thought?
Most of my heroes are Alphas, and yet I hadn't truly met one before (hey, I'm a writer -- I have a great imagination). It was quite a revelation, and let me tell you, these men are so going to end up in a book! Possibly a whole series, as a matter of fact.
I'll work extra hard at describing that smirk that is unlike any I'd ever seen before (as if he knew everything about everything and wouldn't you like to know too?) or how when an Alpha to the core lets loose, you better beware. I'm happy to say that by the end of their visit, I quite happily hit them whenever they bugged me too much. After all, what's the point of being the only woman if you can't make up the rules?
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6 comments:
That's a nice mental picture you gave me there: dark suit, stare that could kill...
And I'm really sure you'll come up with some great stories to tell. Great real life characters+great imagination= Happy readers, lol.
xoxo
I would have loved to be at your side. Sounds very interesting. What an experience you made. Congrats.
Connie/Germany
@Taby It is a nice picture, isn't it? That stare is really scary, believe me! (Okay, hot too ;)
They really gave me too much ammunition. Now, I feel as if I have to write those books.
@Connie Thanks, hon. Like I said on FB, you'd have liked him. He's similar to Kevin in some ways (personality-wise, I mean -- not physically!).
NOW you've managed to make me regret leaving Paris, I'd have looked for a way to tag along for that trip! Did you keep one of those for me?
@Cotte I'm pretty sure I could have managed to fit you in one of the cars too. That's what you get for leaving me and living so far away ;)
They're gone now (dang it!), but I must admit I wouldn't have minded keeping one too.
So, you're an Alpha for using simple psychology tricks? Cool story
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