Wow! That's a long list! I mean, people are difficult by nature, so if you have to deal with one (or a group of them) for more than a minute or two chances are somebody is going to make life difficult (except me of course, I am NEVER difficult!).
But there is one person who comes to mind as one of the most difficult people I have ever dealt with. He was the pharmacist-in-charge in the first pharmacy I ever worked in. I worked with this man for more than 4 years and he made every single day difficult. I came home crying more nights than I care to remember. Other techs came and went, run off by this man's behavior. But I stuck it out. I needed that job and I was stubborn. I just couldn't bring myself to walk away and let him win. So I kept at it, day after day. And just when I was at the very end of my rope things changed. Note I said "things" not "him". As far as I know he never did change. But he did leave. The pharmacy was sold to a new owner who offered me a job but chose not to offer my offensive coworker one. I had won!!
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I did win, but not because he left and I stayed. I won because sticking it out all those years taught me some valuable life lessons on coping with difficult people and overcoming impossibly ugly situations. I truly believe that God used that time in my life to prepare me for new challenges, for the blessings and the difficulties involved in living. No matter where I find myself, if I slow down, take a deep breath and pray, I can overcome anything! (and a little dose of stubbornness doesn't hurt either!)
We really do grow a lot when we hang in there through difficult times...and with difficult people. Patience and perseverance. Both are needed.
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