Handling interference: Seeing an x's-family member.

I ran into this situation last night at a bar. Now granted I was doing nothing but hanging out with friends and enjoying a good drink, but suddenly I saw a familiar face, and it wasn't one I wanted to see. I saw my ex-boyfriends brother and all his friends. Now I live in a small town so I've been lucky to keep away from drama. So I turned around and collected myself and went back to hanging out with my friends. My friends are the reason I'm out and nothing should stop that. Through all the fear and anxiety I've been experiencing seeing people that may or may not like me, I've come to realize that I have to be strong and I have to remain who I am, not who people think I am. I am a strong independent woman, and every woman should be that way in the face of fear. If you can't be in charge of your social interactions then who is? We (as single ladies/men) need to be proud that we've over coming something so hard and dark, we're rising up and doing better than before. And you know what should an ex or an associate of come up to you and say something; be courteous at first, listen to them and then calmly respond. It isn't their fault you got messed with by some bad dude. They're people too and we need to extend a hand to anyone who is nice and loving. We need to show love and fierceness and not hide behind our dark memories.

I'm not saying forgive and forget, because while we do all need to forgive, we need not forget what that man/lady did to you. Just keep the faith that they will get theirs in the end.