I have found people put in positions of power can and will use their advantage over those beneath them. It's an ego trip for them. When climbing the ladder of success, one must be everybody's friend. Yes, it is a bit of pretending. That's why I laughed from the very definition of character! Maybe I am not so honest with my feelings about people. But it would only be of detriment to me to be totally honest. What good would it do me to tell her she hurt my feelings? At worst, she would harbor a dislike for me for having the balls to assert myself and criticize her. That would just cause me more hurt. So, I just have to let it go.

I am not totally phoney about my needing to love everyone there. I just need to let go the reasons for dislike, and focus on what I do like about each person. But yes, the reason for that is so that I can thrive in the environment, therefore the motive is less than honest and selfish. So be it. I honestly did like everybody there very much.

I agree with Divine that the ability to have such a thin skin correlates to how much did you need the job. Those of us who need the money will have to put up with all kinds of mistreatment because there is no better alternative. There will always be a nasty boss who yells over nothing and misjudged you.

I had an experience where I was the leader in a volunteer position, where I had to deal with ego maniacs hungry for power and thieves who were getting away with stealing. I shouldn't have even taken on the challenge, and it ruined my insides literally. The equivalent of HR in this situation was against me and I have no idea why. I had to call in a national agency to come to my aid, which they did. I cleaned house the best I could and then left the whole organization once my term was up. I did a lot of good for them, and was given a kick in the azz for it.

I brought my aunt to one of the showdown meetings with me so she could witness it for herself, because it was unbelievable. She was the executive director of a national organization in a scientific field. She could not believe these people! She said she never saw anything like it in all her life. I don't know why I even took that challenge on. I guess I was in a midlife crisis and wanted to give something of myself to the world. Silly me.