Why Can't You Shut Up?

“You forgot to buy milk!” “You never said anything about milk.” “Yes, I definitely did. You never listen.” “I do too listen. You never said milk.” “No, I did say milk. You just don’t listen.” We’ve all been in situations like this one–when a loved one unintentionally provokes a confrontation. What do we do? We stand our ground, push our point, and underscore our reasons. We do it because we know we’re right. What is it, deep inside our being, that refuses to budge, to give in, or to shut up befo