Traits and behaviors that annoy me

In my other stories, I often talk about the importance of empathy. Accepting behaviors and opinions that are different from one’s own is my favorite virtue. But I’m not perfect… I get annoyed by some behaviors.

• People being cheap. Let me explain. Money is a very complicated area of our lives and I’ve messed up a lot on this front. I won’t go into detail in this story. So I’m in no position to make judgments. But let’s say you grab lunch with a friend or potential business partner. I know people who’ll go through the check (the bill as they say in British English!) scrupulously to split it. I know others who will readily take the check. I am like that — I often pay for everyone, and, trust me, there are many times when that charge on my card creates a hole in my account. Why my account is running so low is a different matter (blame it on having four kids, though it’s not just that!). But it’s just against my nature to be petty about money in some common situations like the one I described above.
• Men communicating sexual objectification of women, especially in social situations. This is a sensitive one. I’m not a saint. I’m an animal — we all are. Actually, my sex drive is pretty high. Can I momentarily desire a woman who’s not my partner? Of course. Still, my respect for women is profound. I can’t stand any locker room boy-will-boys type of talk. I think of my wife, my daughter, my mother, my grandmother. These women are much closer to being saints than I am. Every woman is someone else’s daughter, mother, partner, laboring…