It used to bother me like crazy when I was younger, but now it's only when someone very close like immediate family is unkind that it bothers me. When other people try to do it, I genuinely smile at them. It drives them nuts and might even aggravate the situation sometimes, but I can't help but be amused that they think they will know how to make me feel bad. Acquaintances and work colleagues haven't a clue what makes me tick, and invariably the things that they might try to be insulting about are nothing I'm sensitive about. It's a far cry from the girl who was once scared of her own shadow, but that's a long time ago. Most people couldn't begin to guess what I've been through over the course of my life, what it would take to get under my skin, and that happens to work out quite well for me.

Except that people who are very used to others being intimidated by them can be really irritated by my apparent imperviousness. But, that's none of my business.