←

→

How irritable are you on any given day?

November 6th, 2007 | Guest writer, Just thinking, Opportunity, Prayer 

What’s your irritation quotient? Do you find yourself with a constant underlying sense of irritation about the little things in life that should only be annoyances? Or does your irritation quotient go up only for select instances? Do you feel this is a function of not voicing some of the things that maybe should have been voiced along the way or do you see that you could have taken better care of yourself with more rest and more regular food? Maybe all of the above, since speaking up for ourselves can also constitute taking care of ourselves, unless it becomes a regular habit of speaking up over everything, which possibly we should break.

I can be irritable with the best of them, but it doesn’t necessarily make me feel better. I try to pray my way out of it before it settles in, so it doesn’t come out in ways I would prefer it not to. And sometimes I pray my way not to rehearse it in thought when it is something that isn’t immediately fixable.

What do you do with irritation? There are opportunities every day to overcome it or to be overcome by it. No life is free of it completely. Do you suppose some people have higher thresholds of irritation?

I find it helpful not to let a little river of irritation run in me that can go up with the slightest spark. Of course, that is, if I catch it in time. It would be saying too much to say that I always do.

Karin

The subhead on the story said, “Little acts of revenge can feel so good.” [the person refused to call the sizes of drinks at Starbucks by their Starbuck names]

This notion is potentially useful in plotting a novel or TV show, but in the real world it fails on two levels. First of all, disputing the terminology of a cup size or other marketing detail just makes life harder for the clerk, who has no power over company policy. Why expend time and energy hassling an innocent bystander who’s just doing a job?

Second, and perhaps more important, if minor annoyances create enough agitation within you that seeking little acts of revenge becomes a priority, where do you draw the line? Can you even tell the difference between getting pushed around and just feeling bothered? And what if your “I’m fighting back” gambit causes someone else to want revenge on you?

To me, it wouldn’t matter if a company wanted to call its cup sizes “glork,” “koopa,” and “zeralack.” I could work with that. Some people might say this proves I’m just a big talking marshmallow. Not true. It’s just that I’ve set a high threshold for annoyance, and I keep issues in perspective.

It wasn’t too many decades ago that business owners in America could offer selective service to patrons based on skin color. Knowing this, making a fuss about cup sizes or a long line, or berating the clerk because you got incorrect change, is pretty lame.

If revenge is on your personal agenda for today, consider erasing it. Everyday life is full of bumps. Most of them are not the little hills you want to die on. They aren’t even worth a small skirmish. Jeffrey Shaffer To read the whole article go here Don’t take revenge, be happy .

Blog Traffic Exchange Related Posts
  • blog traffic exchangeMore thinkin' about forgiveness (and rage) Norris Burkes is a columnist in our local paper who is syndicated, so perhaps you get him too. He writes about spiritual things and is currently a chaplain at a hospital, so often he writes...
  • PhotobucketReview: NYX Diamond Sparkle lip gloss Oh, yummy, is all I can say. You can't go wrong for $4. When I made my recent trek to an Ulta, I bought two colors (they had very little selection and do not sell...
  • blog traffic exchangeA Mom Without a Baby I loved this new mom's description of desiring her new Chinese daughter. It's good when you are waiting to have a new story. Karin For so long I've been a mom without a baby, my...
  • blog traffic exchangeGetting through inertia Life leaps like a geyser for those willing to drill through the rock of inertia. Alexis Carrel This quote is both an encouragement and a conviction for me. Frankly, drill and rock describe the effort...
  • blog traffic exchangeFinding happiness One thing I know, I'm not happy here, but would I be happy anywhere else? ...Having been blown sideways by life, or shoved by my parents, we've never had the time or privilege to think...
Blog Traffic Exchange Related Websites Online Stores If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.


Categories:

Guest writer, Just thinking, Opportunity, Prayer



0 comments ↓

There are no comments yet...Kick things off by filling out the form below.

Leave a Comment