ANGRY PEOPLE MAKE ME NERVOUS

Angry people make more angry people. How we act and the words we choose can turn a bad situation into nasty, very easily. Of course, I get angry, but to put it in check quickly is the main reason I don't react on anger. To diffuse anger is not an easy task, and, for some, it is frightening to see it fester within them. I've ranted on my blog before, based on anger towards someone or something. It is sometimes a source of release for me, but I have also learned to forgive and try to make the best of bad situations. There seems to always be something to learn when things do not go the way I have planned. Anger is an emotion we are all entitled to, except when the anger turns to aggression and more intense anger, or borders on evil. I will then leave and ignore, whether online or in person.

Since the election, there has been bashing to the newly elected. My candidate did not win, but to have enough respect for the U.S. Presidential Office will reflect my behavior and attitude. I'm sure I will not agree with everything the new President offers Americans, however, I will have enough human respect to listen to what he is saying and how he projects his ideas.

There are people, especially online, who are so angry about the election results, they seem a bit crazy. First, the color of his skin, nor his affiliation with anyone, was not why I did not vote for him. The main reason, for me, were human life issues. Our last three presidents did not fully support all the life issues, nor did my candidate this time. I know the new President does not represent all of my views, however, I'm willing to give it a go. I have no other choice anyway, other than to rant or argue about it. Though the First Amendment allows these particular people's anger to flow, it also preserves my right to write about their anger as well. I have had enough of the slurs, racial tension, especially about his wife and children. I do not want to hear it for the next four years, nor will I be a part of this flow.

Life is full of mistakes, illness, ignorance, death and other surprises. They knock us on our ass, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It is up to us and our loved ones to give us a hand or shoulder to cry on, and lift ourselves back up. Life goes on, even with the death of a loved one. We are expected back to join the world again, after licking our wounds. There is no just reason for anger in any of these issues.

My father passed away at Christmas time in 1992. Though he was sick for a long time, a "mistake" in surgery left him to lie for six months of additional suffering. He then quietly passed away, when his body could not fight any longer. Easily, I could have turned to anger but the same "mistake" was in an effort to save and prolong his life. I still, and will always wish for him to be back with us physically, but I am sure he is fine and at peace now. He would not want me to be a part of any anger or bitterness.

When diagnosed with cancer, our priest wanted me to connect with a couple of other people of the parish, who had the same type of cancer. With his great insight, I called one of them. She interrogated me on what I thought caused it. Did I grow up on a polluted river or other water source? Did I have unnecessary exposure to radiation as a child? Did I take any type of pharmaceuticals that are now off the market? Hell, I was in tears, after hearing my diagnosis, and did not want to go to this dark side of the issue. I wanted desperately to know what questions to ask the doctor, surgeon, endocrinologist. I wanted to know what to expect with the radioactive iodine treatments. I wanted to know if my body would recover, and how to explain it to my children. I wanted to know what type of fight I was heading for. I wanted to know about surviving, not pointing the finger of blame. Certainly, this intense anger and resentment would have directed my health into the opposite direction. Graciously thanking her for her input, I hung up and never called back. I spoke to another patient, a sister of a friend, and she steered me in a better direction, answered some of my questions and laid to rest most of the "what ifs" in my mind. Finding intelligent doctors and educating myself was essential to me. Being angry would have deferred my own treatment and current health.

Simple mistakes and impatience for others often spark of anger. This can't be good for us physically, or for our society, sometimes escalating to incidents of violence. American's diets are full of fast food, Federal Express and traffic that have us all in a such a hurry. Nothing is slow and simple any more. So it didn't have the outcome you wanted it to have. Maybe you know you are right and you never make mistakes (ha!). So what! No one has ever made you any promises that the right would have it all. These people appear to be so self centered, and they demand to get everything they think are entitled to, at anyone's cost! Anger is the opposite direction of right.

We all need to find our own personal way to get over it more quickly. Realizing we've all made mistakes, we all have problems, we all are in each other's life for a reason, may be ways to not let petty annoyances climb to the anger stage. Relax. Play music. Exercise. Journal. Whatever it takes so this anger doesn't elevate to evil towards one another. Find some way, because life is too short for this type of extreme behavior.
Cardinal Newman said that it is naive to think peace will be the "automatic product of any educational curriculum or the aftermath of a peace treaty". Acceptance, forgiveness and peace belong in our daily actions, to everyone we encounter. It's a shame love and compassion does not have this same intensity.