how important it is for me to be "right" the older I get.
I wonder, if wanting to be right isn't just a want, but also a need. As we get older, we have gathered more experience and, we have less time to apply it to make an impact. We don't have the luxury of time to make as many mistakes. Not saying this justifies, but maybe it is part of our DNA too.
Could be. Maybe we just don't feel like we have the time to deal with the drama to prove our point.