Woman Snaps And Leaves After Coworker Makes Her B-Day Lunch Awkward And Then Plays A Victim
It’s one thing to be particular about cleanliness, but it’s another to be a “neat freak.” Those who identify themselves as the latter may run into some problems, sometimes with other people.
This woman, who described herself as a “tidy person” who is “big on cleanliness,” had a rather tense lunch with her colleagues on her birthday. It began when one of them wanted to eat her lunch in her brand new car, which she declined.
Things only escalated further when they arrived at the restaurant, prompting her to storm out on everyone.
Being a “neat freak” can be a source of tension with the people around you
Image credits: romankosolapov (Not the actual photo)
This is what happened to a woman, who describes herself as someone “big on cleanliness”
Image credits: lookstudio (Not the actual photo)
She explained how tensions rose between her and her colleagues
Image credits: Nevs
Clutter and mess are linked to negative emotions like irritability
The woman’s overall reaction to the conversation with her colleagues while at the restaurant was supposedly due to stress. However, it may also be due to her brain’s natural aversion to anything messy.
According to Very Well Mind, clutter is often linked to unpleasant emotions such as confusion, tension, and irritability.
“To the brain, clutter represents unfinished business, and this lack of completeness can be highly stressful for some people,” an excerpt from the article reads.
The unkempt environment may also make a person feel like their life is out of control. According to a study on the effects of anxiety on spontaneous ritualized behavior, many people resort to cleaning as a coping mechanism during moments of high stress.
What’s worse is that people who describe themselves as neat freak are often not in control of their urges. As science journalist and author David H. Freedman tells NBC News, “People who are neat are helpless to be otherwise — they’re prisoners of it.”
Unfortunately, the woman had her birthday lunch ruined by something that may be beyond her control. However, she can take steps to reduce her stress. According tolicensed therapist Dr. Elliot Cohen, it’s simply about practicing embracing untidiness.
“If the stain on your garment or on a rug is peering boldly back at you, then turn your back on it and walk away instead of attacking it immediately with a cleansing solution,” he wrote.
It may take a lot of counseling and therapy to help the woman address her cleanliness obsession in a healthy way. Until then, she may need to mend things with her coworkers to avoid more awkward situations at work.
Some people in the comments had questions, while others shared their opinions
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I agree with @Gondola360 that it stinks like a setup of the office neatnik. In their car, sprung on them at the last minute, on their birthday. Nasty a*s coworkers thinking it’s funny, then pulling attitude when their “joke” isn’t taken well. Here’s what I have t9 say about it: Schroedinger's D*******g: The person who says something cruel and nasty, then decides whether it was "just a joke" based on the reaction they get.
Why didn't Jane ask to eat in the other person's car? Problem solved, or did she ask OP because she knew how she'd react? That's my guess.
I think OP could have handled it better, but I don't think the coworker should have gone along in the first place if she wasn't going to eat at the restaurant for whatever reason; if she was allergic, if she didn't want to spend money; whatever. I mean, that's what a birthday lunch *is*. You don't bring your own stuff and eat (especially when everyone else is going to a restaurant, unless, *maybe* it's a picnic?). If money was the concern I don't think anyone would have cared if the coworker said "hey, I can't financially justify this, but I'd like to join you anyway because I want to celebrate OP's birthday." I don't eat in my car -- not a pedant thing, but it is what it is -- and I wouldn't care if someone *asked* me if they could eat in my car, but *assuming* they could eat in my car is different.
I would never have agreed to go to lunch in the first place. In fact, most years I took the day off. It's my birthday and I'll pass if I want to, to paraphrase.
If my job has to do something for my birthday, they can just give me a birthday bonus check. I don’t want a cake or lunch. Just a check will make me happy. That way I don’t have to socialize with coworkers. I learned the hard way that the majority are nasty snakes so should be avoided or kept at arms length—-be cordial but by all means do not get chummy. I have my own family and friends and a life outside work, so don’t need coworkers to be social. I also don’t eat lunch, and usually run errands, out of the office, on my lunch hour anyway. Gives me a break from people, so I can get through the rest of the day.
Load More Replies...I agree with @Gondola360 that it stinks like a setup of the office neatnik. In their car, sprung on them at the last minute, on their birthday. Nasty a*s coworkers thinking it’s funny, then pulling attitude when their “joke” isn’t taken well. Here’s what I have t9 say about it: Schroedinger's D*******g: The person who says something cruel and nasty, then decides whether it was "just a joke" based on the reaction they get.
Why didn't Jane ask to eat in the other person's car? Problem solved, or did she ask OP because she knew how she'd react? That's my guess.
I think OP could have handled it better, but I don't think the coworker should have gone along in the first place if she wasn't going to eat at the restaurant for whatever reason; if she was allergic, if she didn't want to spend money; whatever. I mean, that's what a birthday lunch *is*. You don't bring your own stuff and eat (especially when everyone else is going to a restaurant, unless, *maybe* it's a picnic?). If money was the concern I don't think anyone would have cared if the coworker said "hey, I can't financially justify this, but I'd like to join you anyway because I want to celebrate OP's birthday." I don't eat in my car -- not a pedant thing, but it is what it is -- and I wouldn't care if someone *asked* me if they could eat in my car, but *assuming* they could eat in my car is different.
I would never have agreed to go to lunch in the first place. In fact, most years I took the day off. It's my birthday and I'll pass if I want to, to paraphrase.
If my job has to do something for my birthday, they can just give me a birthday bonus check. I don’t want a cake or lunch. Just a check will make me happy. That way I don’t have to socialize with coworkers. I learned the hard way that the majority are nasty snakes so should be avoided or kept at arms length—-be cordial but by all means do not get chummy. I have my own family and friends and a life outside work, so don’t need coworkers to be social. I also don’t eat lunch, and usually run errands, out of the office, on my lunch hour anyway. Gives me a break from people, so I can get through the rest of the day.
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