“I don’t think about you at all.” — Don Draper

If only it were that easy. Over the last year I’ve been reflecting on why negative, overly-personal complaints have affected me so much. I think it’s two things:

• I have never needed to grow thick skin. Over a 30+ year career, I’ve been lucky to get along with just about everyone I’ve worked with. I’ve also made a lot of friends in the Mac, iOS, and IndieWeb communities. Can’t really think of anyone being seriously upset with me before.
• I tend to fixate on things. So if I’m worried about something, I won’t be able to shake it for days or weeks. Negativity doesn’t get brushed off. It lingers for a long time and shapes my thinking on new situations I encounter.

Both of these get better with time. But neither is completely fixable without becoming a different person.