Er...

I am the Ice Queen.

Or so I've been deemed by a coworker, and probably various others who haven't the heart to admit it to me directly. She did, though. And over lunch no less.

It's not as bad as it sounds. She was telling me that that's the impression she got when she first met me. She was hired as a seasonal employee to assist me and others in my department. Apparently, when she introduced herself and in a few subsequent conversations, I came off as cold and a bit displeased with her presence.

Now, she says, she's aware that I'm just reserved and that it takes me a bit of time to warm up to people.

I didn't take offense to what she said; I always like to know what impressions I give others, good or bad. But, it got me thinking about how many others I've made feel the same way or similarly. While I can't apologize for my natural demeanor, I do know from past conversations and intuition that my tendencies can throw others off or rub them the wrong way.