The first and best lesson is that we have a lot to learn! As toddlers, we know this then gradually forget as tsunamis of knowledge and more than a sprinkling of pride pour in throughout our school years.

I'm definitely NOT pushy. I have a friend who is. What's ironic is that we share the same first name. I grew up with a pushy controlling mother and NEVER want to be like her. While in Codependents Anonymous, I learned that saying something once is "feedback", but saying it twice or more is "control".

My strategy with pushy people is usually to evade and avoid. When that isn't possible, I simply and politely say "no". If the cycle repeats more than once, I'll be a bit more forceful and say "what part of 'no' did you not understand?" If they're "rude" enough to keep "pushing", I'll move out of character and be a bit rude in my push-back.

My passion goes into writing. If a reader doesn't like what I have to say, they can just click away. As one of my old blog taglines read: "I'd rather write than talk". When someone interrupts me, I just stop talking. Why waste my breath?