I was spending a lot of time at my favorite coffeehouse because I felt comfortable there. He was trying his best to insult me, make me feel guilty, etc. He was very good at this. I got to thinking about turtles - yes, they do hide. They know when to pull their heads in for protection - they are cautious.
Turtles know when to come out when it is safe.
They live a long time. They are wise. Turtles are revered in many societies as a strong and important part of their mythology. I decided to embrace the putdown. There, its out in the open.