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When the energy turns ugly, withdraw your piece. Your power isn’t proven by participation — you don’t defeat ugly by fighting it, you outgrow it.

Yesterday I stopped at the post shop to send a parcel. My dog barked at a lady. I warned her that she takes her job of protecting the car very seriously and suddenly she began to started yelling at me. The irritation in her voice was sharp and immediate.

For a moment, I felt the urge to explain, defend, justify. But instead, I looked at her and said gently, “Oh my God, are you okay?”

She snapped back, “No, I’m not.”

And I replied, “Well, I can clearly see that. I hope you have a beautiful afternoon and that your day gets better.”

Then I walked away.

My dog was still in protector mode. The woman was in something else entirely.

It would have been easy to step onto her game board — to argue about barking, to prove a point, to carry her frustration with me for the rest of the day. But not every outburst requires a counter-move.

Some people bark because they are guarding something.
Some people bark because they are hurting.
Either way, I don’t have to join the noise.