I've been watching The Office, both the US and UK version and it's been very, very funny.

Of course, the first time I watched it, I couldn't help but cringe.  I wondered why, until it became obvious, how many times in your lifetime do you act like a Michael, played brilliantly by Steve Carell?  Of course, it happens, even to the best of of.  As time went by and I felt more comfortable watching it, I started really focusing on the main actor Michael.

What was less obvious is the irritation I felt whith certain people.  I couldn't understand why I felt annoyed talking to some people, who would eventually interrupt and talk about what they wanted.  Then it dawned on me.  They were being Michaels.

It made me go back to something we often cover in coaching, that of dealing with boundaries.  Obviously, the Michaels of this life have an atrophied sense of boundaries, are struggling through their own issues and using others as springboards for working out their stuff.  I realized my boundaries were being invaded twice this week.  I was with someone who was telling me how he predicted the fall of the real estate market, gas and global economy.  Frankly said, anyone living in California 3 years ago with an ounce of common sense could have predicted it.  What was interesting about the conversation is that it wasn't one.  It was a monologue.  When I jumped into it to participate in, he would listen without hearing and would go back to his diatribe.

Another situation happened, where I was showing my holidays pictures of Guanajuato, until the person I was with went off tangents and showed his 2 year old pictures for what seemed to be a long time.  I felt jibbed.  I was really passionate about it and I was building up to a conclusion as to why I was showing him these fine Nick pictures   But I never got to this point.

Truth be told, I am happy my friend is so enthusiastic.  I couldn't be happier.  And as to the other conversation, I guess that person was justifying himself so I quit talking.  I actually quit talking in both cases.  Reabsorbed my energies and waited for a polite exit.  In fact, I patiently started to pack my belongins, and left.  In a way, I reinitialized my boundaries.  That day, I had invited my friend so we could share and talk.  I had work to do, I kept to it.