This morning, my running partner noticed my form was off when we were running. "You stiff today?" he asked. I had to laugh and then I had to explain that I could hardly run because my legs are so sore from doing low-down squats in Body Pump class on Tuesday. I never work my legs that hard in that class because I figure I get all the leg work I need when I run every morning, but...I squatted like a champ on Tuesday. Why? Honestly? Because there were a couple of new girls there and I just felt compelled to show them up. "You are competitive," he said. I considered denying it, but I was out there running...with sore legs and a swelled ankle (from last week's fall) and maintaining our regular pace, so...I didn't have a leg to stand on.

Last week during a meeting with my mentor I told him I'd never really wanted to be a boss and had long declined any leadership training because I didn't see myself as a "bossy" person. He looked me in the eye and said "But, you are bossy." I said, "No, no, I'm not...I mean, I like things my way, but I'm not bossy.I don't boss people around" He said, "No, you're bossy." I sat there, dumbfounded. He continued "Look, being bossy isn't a bad thing, it's a good thing -- you take charge, you take responsibility and when you walk into a meeting you end up taking over." Guilty as charged.

So, there you have it -- I'm competitive and I'm bossy and I'm apparently not fooling anyone so perhaps it's time to just embrace my inner-bitch and acknowledge the fact that being bossy and competitive has gotten me where I am today (and will take me where I want to go).

Not very ladylike I know, but, then, nobody has ever accused me of being a lady.