Sometimes I'll catch myself saying things like "sorry to bother you" or "I don't want to be bother"

Every time I do, I might as well be 

STABBING MYSELF IN THE BACK🗡

Do you ever say things like that too? If so,

STOP STABBING YOURSELF IN THE BACK🗡

ET TU?

Why so stabby? What's wrong with "not wanting to be a bother?"

Here's what's wrong: I'm not a BOTHER and neither are YOU.

YOU ARE NOT A BOTHER

You are (I believe) a divine spirit, victor of evolutionary eons, powerful beyond your wildest imagination.

The sound someone makes at the very end of drinking through a straw? 🥤That's a bother.

Somebody right in your face, heavy mouth-breathing directly onto your eyeballs? 👁 Bother.

Dropping your car keys in hot molten lava? 🌋 Definitely a bother.

And YOU are none of those. You're not a bother, pest, nuisance, annoyance, or anything like that. Stop saying you are. Stop stabbing yourself in the back. Stop holding yourself back.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

Aretha had it right when she sang about RESPECT. 

"I respect you and your valuable time; is this a good time to talk?" (Can you IMAGINE if that's how a telemarketer started out? I might take that call.)

BTW, RESPECT is a two-way street. Anytime somebody in the working world is nonchalantly late, or constantly takes your impromptu attention for granted - it doesn't make them a bother, it's just disrespectful.  

So the next time you have good reason to ask for a colleague's attention (especially those times when people are just non-responsive) no more walking on eggshells. Respectfully just do it; they can let you know if it's not a good time. And if they get all butt-hurt because you asked, it's an opportunity to co-create some agreements with them about future communication. 

In any case, please ix-nay on the back-stabbing: you're NOT A BOTHER.

Mad Respect, Eric