A reader writes in:
Dear Dr. Liberal.
I gave my boss, who I like and respect, an expensive little lacquer box that I got on vacation. She said she loved it and made a big fuss when I gave it to here, but when I was back in her office later that day, my jaw dropped when I saw she had it on her desk holding paperclips.
It has been there for a while now and every-time I see it, it burns me up a little bit. What should I do? Should I say something? At times I’m mad at her, and at times Im mad at my self for letting this eat at me.
Signed,
Conflicted in Camden
Dear Conflicted,
You should be the focus of your anger. Try punching or kicking yourself. I mean jeez, I’m about to lose my bedside manner with this one.
WTF were you thinking giving your female boss a gift. (I assume you are a woman as well, because if you are a man – you’ll have to stab yourself in addition to punching yourself.) Bosses don’t want gifts, they want you to work harder. They also want you to not be a nut, which is what you are being. That is the greatest gift you can give your boss.
Here is another tip for life. Once you give a gift, to anybody, LET IT GO. Anybody who keeps track of what another person does with a gift is asking for heart ache. I could go on, but beating up on you this early in the morning might throw my karma off for the whole day.
Charitably yours,
Dr. Liberal