Zero tolerance for A-holes...

In the last month I have hit my limit with people. People who are downright rude to me or others. I don't get them. I don't get what they get out of treating people like that. In the past, I have allowed myself to be the doormat for that kind of behavior. Inside, I was pissy about it but wouldn't say anything, mostly out of fear of how they would further react to my stepping up to them. I would always just accept it. I don't know what happened inside of me but a switch has been hit. It started two weeks ago, when a coworker was terrible to me AGAIN. He for some reason thinks it's appropriate to treat me like I am a naughty 7 year old child. Complete with condescending rhetorical questions. I am in a support type position so my job is to help people. He makes it impossible to do so. He will interrupt me rudely and not listen to my expertise on our programs. One time about 5 months back,  I was waiting for a meeting with a lead and she was in the next room with said employee. He said to her: "I am not intimidated by your tears. My daughter cries to get her way so I am immune" Mind you this man is 60+ years old and he was talking to HIS lead. Can you imagine saying to that to a person of authority?? That just gives you a run down of how this guy works. Let's go back to two weeks ago, he called and was outright, absolutely rude to me. I literally was filled to the brim with his behavior and finally lashed back. I answered in the exact same manner he used with me. He stuttered and got off the phone. He then emailed my manager about how badly he felt that he "accidentally ruffled my feathers" and also talked to the above lead about how "terrible he felt about it". To this day I have not received an apology. :) However, I feel empowered that I stood up to him. I am not asking him to change but he now knows that he can be an asshole, but he is going to get it back. I had a recent run in this weekend with someone I've known for over 10 years. I have sat back and seen this person lash out. This weekend, I had had enough and gave it RIGHT back to him.
My point is: where do these people get off treating people like they do? Is it because we sit back and allow it to happen? I truly think it is. We enable them to be inappropriate. I'm not saying I will not allow people to be angry or pissy. Everyone has their moments (me included!) and it's an emotion everyone has. However, when it becomes a personality trait, that is when I will have an issue. If you can make a conscious decision to be an asshole then you can expect to get it back. I've made a decision...you treat me or my family like crap, you aren't going to get niceness back. (this is outside of my support role in my job and our customers). I'm setting major boundaries. I am so DONE. The older I get the more I want to surround myself with those that make me happy. Those that are mature enough to interact positively. For the ones that aren't, it doesn't mean that I don't  love them or not like them...I just simply don't want them around me. I can love them from afar and wish the best for them but I choose NOT to have them in daily life. Case and point. The negativity can be suffocating and life is too short for that. As bitchy as that may seem, it's the truth. I don't have the tolerance to bear the assholes or the self serving of some any longer. Your world is what you make of it...by allowing people like that to continuously steal your time or energy, you are taking away from the people who want to be positive and happy and want the best for you. :)

 I am thankful my husband is NOT like the above people. He just gets to hear it all :)