It’s cliche and it’s pretentious, but it’s true: Confrontation is ultimately with one’s self.

It’s not naive, though. Insomuch as there are others, the others are proxies in our struggles, and we are the proxies in theirs. When they punch their demons in the nose, we do bleed.

So how much of ourselves should we invest in defense of our noses or, alternatively, in perfection of our strikes?

I’ve been dragged back in recently – reminded of my default assumptions, my proclivities, my habits, my tactics. I see them most when I suspect them in others. Is that my “True Self”? Can you reply my question without answering your demons?