I'm retired, now, but I hope you mentor the young ones coming up the ladder behind you, and embolden them as well.

It was a male coworker who lectured me on this — and another incident I may write about another time — and pointed out to me that it wasn't JUST about me. That my decision to let things slide had ripple effects beyond leaving me slightly resentful and wary of certain people. Note that I don’t say “mansplained,” because he truly lectured me and made me feel rightfully ashamed. I was proud of myself for not “overreacting,” and he was disappointed in me for not speaking up, because he knows I’m not easily intimidated, where others might be. He was right.