GROOM CGQ_Issue3_Proof_rev2 | Page 12

With Tat How To Handle The Naysayers. I would like to pull up the subject of a disgruntled and/or unhappy public. We creative groomers will all eventually get our turn on ye olde chopping block. It doesn’t feel good, but it will happen. If it has not happened yet, trust me, you will get your turn, particularly if you compete. I bring this up at this time because I have been caught myself. I have been publicized in some noticeable things, and not always for the better. If any of ya’ll know me, you know I am the type of person that never puts on any special behavior for any one. I don’t care who you are or where you are from, what your background is, how much money you have, what your sexuality is, what religion you belong to, whatever. I treat everyone the same. I do not act “special” for anybody, save my elders whom I was always taught to respect. I have been lying pretty low since Intergroom. Not only from staying busy with work (I am working for Sally AND myself now) but I have just been thinking. A lot. When I was a young lass, I was a tad scrappy. I felt that I had to fight for what I believed in. Just the mere mention of something I was passionate about (like animals in shelters) would get me all fired up and scrap-happy, but I have matured a lot since then. Don’t get me wrong, I am still plenty passionate about things; it’s just how I handle them now that makes all the difference. The old adage “you catch more flies with honey than vinegar” has a bit of truth to it. Let’s start by saying it does not matter who you are, there will ALWAYS be someone that disagrees with you. You know why? That person is JUST as passionate about THEIR belief in whatever this subject is…let’s call it Whammy-diddle X. So, you, dear reader, are on the “A” belief side of subject Whammy-diddle X. You have just met a strong opposition from this person, Bob, who is on belief side “B” of Whammy- diddle X. Now, before you complain and tell me this is too much like algebra with all the letters and variables….let’s just get to the point. How do you convince Bob that the “A” belief is just the most darn tootin’ way to think about this Whammy-diddle X? What can you say? What can you do? This depends on how rational Bob is. Does Bob let you get a word in edge-wise? Does Bob give 2 cents what your opinion is? Is Bob interested in learning more about the opposite views in the Whammy-diddle X controversy? What to do?! What to do?! Nothin’. Yup. Nothing. That’s what you do. Absolutely, positively, nuthin’, honey. You let good ol’ Bob take the field FIRST.