Hmmmmm...04-15-13

“I don’t have pet peeves like some people.  I have whole kennels of irritation.”

–Whoopi Goldberg

If you’re dog-tired of everyone yanking your chain, read on. Maybe you need to learn to keep your temper on a shorter leash.

Picture this: you are behind a slow driver who keeps tapping the breaks and checking road signs.  Do you immediately begin to tailgate, intending for this unknown driver to sense your rage as you bear down on them at a menacingly close range?  Do you curse about their inability to drive?  Do you then lay on the horn? 

Stop grinding your teeth and unclench your fists.  When you’re constantly aggravated by little annoyances, your body produces too much adrenaline.  Over time, this leads to a weakened heart and stiffening arteries, and can triple your risk of heart attack.  Scientists believe that chronic anger is more dangerous than smoking and obesity as a factor that will contribute to an early death.

There’s nothing warm and fuzzy about pet peeves that can kill you.  Next time you’re following an irritatingly slow driver, take a deep breath and count to ten.  Since our neurological response to anger only lasts about two seconds, the extra eight seconds should help!  Now consider this: maybe this driver is new in town.  Perhaps they’re lost. But one thing is for sure—your anger is not shortening the other guy’s life. 

Call off the dogs before the fur flies.  Learn to tame the savage beast.

Don’t let ‘em rattle your cage,

Gina J

Hmmmmm...04-08-13

“So if you think your life’s complete confusion,
Because your neighbor’s got it made,
Just remember it’s a Grand Illusion,
Deep inside we're all the same.” -Dennis DeYoung, ‘Grand Illusion’, as performed by Styx

It’s all smoke and mirrors, folks.

At any given moment, we might be suffering from confusions, delusions, or illusions—and maybe even all three.  We then further deceive ourselves by imagining that no one else is experiencing any of these hardships.  This self-deception leads us to falsely conclude that we are surrounded by vibrantly healthy people with dream jobs, perfect relationships, angelic children—all of whom easily afford tropical vacations, sleek new sports cars, granite counter tops, and stainless steel appliances.

Some of us could win Academy Awards for masking our personal struggles better than others, having perfected the tricks of the masquerade trade.  Though we all have the faces we wear in public, when the lights go down on the daily show, the masks come off.  There is not one among us who can escape the human condition.  

Plato said, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle.”  None of us wants pain—divorce, loss of a job, illness. We all want pleasure—a warm home filled with love and laughter, meaningful employment, good health.  The only real illusion is that we have convinced ourselves that we are different.

Let's act like we're all in this together. 

Support your supporting cast,

Gina J