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deletedJan 19
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Thank you for your perspective Matt! In some cases, I do take things to the highest level. In this case though, my experiences with 7/11s in my area unfortunately have taught me that a lot of the owners don’t care about great customer service because they will have frequent patrons no matter how they treat people. I did leave a review on their Google page which has tons of similarly awful reviews. I had too many other errands to run before we got hit with terrible snow so I let it go, knowing the money would come back to me one way or another. And it did, by way of a friend! Thank you for reading and commenting!

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Jan 19·edited Jan 21Liked by Ashleigh Vaughn

I am proud with you, Ashleigh, for using your emotional regulation tools. And I'm with you on throwing a fit. It's not about the $4. it's the principle behind it that is infuriating. So loved that you shared this today.

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Thank you Beth Anne! It was infuriating but thanks to this post, a friend sent me the refund 😆🤭 So I feel better about it lol

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I am relating to this so hard today! Thank you for sharing. Recently saw a video from Ms. Swift about us policing women’s reactions to bad male behavior instead of policing the bad behavior, and I still remember the moment the penny dropped for me that this framework is a scam. I am angry about your missing $4.50. That’s like 2 cans worth of chili right there. But more than that, if he took that out of your pocket, no one would claim you were overreacting. Straight up gaslighting and it’s infuriating. Congrats on completing the stress cycling and purging all that shit out. I hope there was a moment of refreshing, puffy-eyed exhaustion that carried some relief.

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Thank you Catherine! And that is such a great and maddening point, so many times the reactions are policed instead of the behavior that caused the reaction, ugh! I’m happy to report I did feel better after going home and settling in for the night and I woke up no longer upset, but still wanting to write about it and I’m glad I did!

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Jan 20Liked by Ashleigh Vaughn

proud of you for feeling the feels! it’s so important to let them out and give them space. i resonate with the feeling of wanting to let everyone know how it is because of the years spent “silenced” it’s like reclaiming a part of you that has been in the shadows and now learning how to balance their feelings. it’s hard but you’re doing it and gracefully and authentically to you !

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Thank you Zariel!! 🫶🏾

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Jan 21Liked by Ashleigh Vaughn

Ashleigh! I feel this on so many levels. Feel those feeling however they come. Crying in the car? Yeah I've done that plenty of times along with screaming and cussing loudly on my way to work and on my way home. The fact that the clerk kept your $4 is crazy! What is insignificant to one person means everything to someone else. Thank you for sharing your story.💙

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Thank you for reading Alex! I’ve definitely had my share of cry breakdowns and cuss-fests so you’re in good company! Lol

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I think I experience something similar in situations like this, due to my autism and justice sensitivity. It's not "just" $4, it's also every bit of related context, every stressor I've recently experienced, and an inherent need for the right thing to happen. I also tend to react strongly to these kinds of situations, even when they seem small to other people. I'm sorry that it happened, and that it couldn't be resolved. I also am so glad you're not beating yourself up over your response, and that you're giving yourself credit for the work you've done to regulate.

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Thank you, A! “An inherent need for the right thing to happen” is something that nags at me in most situations, especially like these and I sometimes hate it because of my strong emotions 😭 It’s a gift and a curse, thank you for commenting!

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Yes! It can definitely make it harder to live in a world like ours. I also think it helps us to do the best we can though.

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I thoroughly enjoyed your writing today. I appreciated your candor and vulnerability. Thank you for sharing.

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Thank you for reading!!

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Aug 6Liked by Ashleigh Vaughn

Just stopping by to say FUCK that clerk, full stop!

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I agree! I haven't been back there since.

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