Vent about work

I work at a library and get so disgusted with co-workers and let it build up. I was trying to do a project for someone who is on vacation while I was at the front desk. I was unfamiliar with it and was getting frustrated. Am sure I looked busy but people would come to me instead of the lady at the next station. I turned to her and said "Are you acknowledging people or just staring at your computer screen because they are all coming to me?" I feel so rude ... but have been thinking something has to be said. She surfs the internet and doesn't make eye contact with people. We are a fairly busy library and given lots of extra projects but I am finding multi-tasking is not my strong suit and makes me crabby with customers and co-workers.

Ya know that old saying about not saying sh_ _ if I had a mouth full of it. That''s how I usually am but couldn't hold it today. They say depression is anger turned inward and think that is half my trouble sometimes. Now I feel bad, I was mean etc. etc.

You weren't mean - you were appropriate.     Did it motivate her to be more interactive?  Sounds as though she might be intimiidated and not feeling she can do things perfectly.  Maybe, since she likes to surf the net, you could deligate some of the research you are doing to her.  Just a thought. 

OK so maybe you worded your frustration not as well as you could have done - we've all done that.

I would suggest you talk to your co-worker at the next opportunity - you could apologise, say you were frustrated and having a bad moment and took it out on her.  This may open the conversation to discuss the matter with less tension between you?  Often, if we initiate, and apologise, even if we aren't in the wrong, it lays the ground for open communication.

At least this way, you won't contintue to feel bad about your actions - do what you need to let them go.  If you are anything like me, if I hold onto things, I end up tranferring that to eating poor choice food.

hugs, Ruth