I suspect that in 5 seconds or less you could name one person in your workplace that you would categorize as difficult to work with. The work world is chock-full of the slothful, the pushy, the naggers, the whiners, the hostile, the neurotic, the over-sensitive and the naysayers. When they enter our work space, they are not only a daily irritant, but they also tend to be obstructionists. Any work initiatives run the risk of being stifled with these people. They have an uncanny way of bringing an entire team to its knees if allowed.

People who try to make this world a better place often get discouraged. They’re apt to say, “What’s the use?” Even their best efforts don’t make an impression. I think by human nature it’s natural to want to see results, if not today, then tomorrow. But good works seldom bring fruit in the lifetime of those who sow. Few people live long enough to see the acorn they planted blossom into a sturdy oak. It requires a complete process of planting, watering and time -- a process created by God.

It’s been said anger is an acid that affects only the container that holds it. So, what anger or resentment is eating away at you right now? Or better yet, ask yourself this … what has my anger done for me lately?

Chances are it’s done more harm than good. If you’ve chosen not to forgive your perpetrator, it could be affecting your health, your relationships and your work. It can and does bring literal deterioration to your bones. It’s like that acid, and we have chosen to bottle it up inside, allowing it to surface over and over again, prohibiting us from healing from the inside out.

I wish I could’ve just hit a “refresh” button to clear the bad day ahead. Have you ever noticed that when you’re running on empty and the whole day is still ahead of you, it just happens to be the day you have the most to do?

Regrets? I’ve had a few, but then again too few to mention. (I’m crooning now.)

So why do I always feel the need to regurgitate my should’ves, would’ves and could’ves?

The biggest regret in my career is letting our business consume us in the early days while raising our children. What took a back seat were things like sitting around the dinner table as a family. Today, my adult son, Marc, reassures me it did no permanent damage, but it’s still a deep regret no less. If I knew then what I know now, I would’ve done parenting better.

Why me, Lord? Why do I always get stuck doing the grunt work? I do more and get less. And while I’m at it, Lord, I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. I’m wearing myself down putting in more waking hours than anyone else in this company and no one even notices. And why are the lights so bright in here?

As I write to you this month, I’m going to take the liberty to sway a bit off the Faith@Work line of thought. However, stick with me because this message likely involves you or someone you love.

To know me is to know I have a doughnut fetish. When a doughnut presents itself to me in any way, shape or form, I find myself holding a dialogue with that doughnut to counteract its lure and convince myself not to eat it.

“I don’t understand it, but I’ll do it.”

“I don’t feel like it, but I will.”

“I don’t want to, but I will.”

You may not have uttered those exact words out loud to your authority figure at work, but you certainly have thought them. Right?