"You sound like my calling is a terrible thing," he said, thinking to jolly me into friendliness, and hopefully from there into compliance.

That attempt to manipulate hardened my resolve. I was not happy that I was still being called. I told him as much. He then had the nerve to tell me that he had personally been on my site this morning and had sent me a personal email.

Oh sure, I had gotten an email from his company...a form letter that was delivered straight into my junk mail folder. I knew all about it, having already checked my email client. Personal email indeed!

This misrepresentation on his part only made me less likely to listen to his claims as he overrode my statement of disinterest and proceeded to tell me about his company (again) and how wonderful it was and 'what it could do for me'. At my growing irritation, he countered by telling me he was only trying to help. Several times he said this.

I did not say it to his face, so to speak, but the truth is, he is not "only" trying to help. He is interested in making a profit for his company and for himself, and it has little to do with altruistically trying to help artists make a living. Obviously, he is less interested in helping me than he is in making the sale. Otherwise, he would have accepted my statement that I already was aware of what he and his company offered and that I was not interested.

Now, to the gist of this article. After getting off the phone, I thought to myself, "I guess I really am a bitch." And immediately, I found myself slipping into bad feelings.

You see, I labeled myself something that I do not want to be, and simply by doing so, I attacked my own self-esteem and self-evaluation. And it got me thinking of how very often this same kind of thing happens to other people. We are bombarded with other people trying to 'sell' us. This may be telemarketers, but it may also be bosses, kids, parents, and so on. We are badgered and hounded, and sadly enough, if you are trying to be a good person who considers others and is considerate, the truth is that certain people simply will not leave you alone. They will push at you until you either give in or resort to being strongly stern in order to get them to leave you alone.

The sad part is, I attacked myself rather than simply leave it at the recognition I already had of an attack being made upon me. When another person is not listening to you say 'leave me alone', when they invade your space and use up your time without your invitation, and most especially when they are obviously attempting to manipulate you, then they are, indeed attacking you.

They are attacking your own judgment as to what is best for you. They are attacking your right to self-determination, they are attacking your right to your own time, thoughts and environment.

Self-protection has unfortunately often been mislabeled. Truth be known, I can be very, very stern when I need to be. I can be as hard and cold as granite, when I have to be. But I am not a bitch. I do not attack others; I am simply ready to protect myself. I hope the same is true of you as well.