November 4, 2010

anger (04/30)

such a silly thing anger but this morning, on a important day, i got a call at 7:55 saying my assistant would be late.  and as i steamed and fumed my way from the parking deck, all the while the steam iron was leaking down my pants and my arms were laden with tablecloths for today's function, i also plotted and planned my "talk" that i was going to have with her.  as i got to my office, i realized (as the phone was ringing off the hook) that i have not replaced my key since the move and i was locked out of the suite.  (yes, she had reminded me numerous times that i needed to go switch my key but i "never had time.") 

i found a side door left unlocked and raced to the phone just as it hung up in my face - it immediately rang again and the caller hung up on me.  as i dashed to my office, after forwarding the phone to mine, it rang a third time where the caller asked for my assistant and i said angerily, that she was not in and he asked "did she ask you to tell me that" 

i stomped off to my office, wet and angry. 

today's gratitude:  as i cool off, and think about how this situation could be different.  i could have answered my phone this morning or checked my messages - she left me one earlier stating that she would be in later.  i could have made time to pick up a key and i would not have been locked out of my office or had to find a way to "break in".  and if i had taken more responsibility about getting up earlier instead always allowing myself to be in at the last minute, then i would not be so anger.  and i laugh because a good friend always tells me, when you point the finger at someone else, there are three fingers pointing back at you.  so i'm grateful for good friends that put me in my place.  i'm grateful for the ability to laugh at myself.  and i'm grateful for the assistant too...even on days i get flustered and a bit angry.  i know we will work this out.

today on my i-pod:  you wanted more (tonic), free ride (edger winter), sunshine (jonathan edwards), roll on (little willies), get over it (the eagles), lithum (nirvana)

22 comments:

  1. another one of those days by the sounds of it Char! I like the fact that you can find something to be grateful about even on one of those no good mornings:)

    You brought a smile to my face when I saw Jonathan Edwards and the song Sunshine on your playlist...haven't heard that in a long time and it brings back good memories:)

    ReplyDelete
  2. You've got some good music to get you through it. I love that you admitted this. It makes me feel better because I do this stuff too.
    Breathe. Calm. Luv ya!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Loved reading this. Although it can be hard at times taking responsibility for our own faults can be a blessing in the end. Have A Blessed Day!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh I get this...and you are so right! We have a choice. At least you can look in hindsight and see how this situation could have been different...many people don't do that. And then they sit with their anger (and that's not good).

    ReplyDelete
  5. i love that pointing your finger analogy.....

    and now you can laugh about it all.....that's what really matters !

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love that one of the songs you are listening to today is Lithum...

    I totally know this feeling. I tend to get angry at certain types of things very quickly and I could see myself being in your shoes and getting pretty angry, pretty quickly. Thanks for the good reminder that there are plenty of ways we can make our lives work out so we end up getting less angry. (Though I will say that people coming in late on important days drives me INSANE.)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I love that "three fingers pointing back at you" thing!! So true. We have all found ourselves in this place. If only I, if only.....

    ReplyDelete
  8. oh, this is good...really good. and yes, usually when i am angry at someone else, 3 fingers are pointing back at me...
    you've come a long way, baby...

    ReplyDelete
  9. your photo sort of looks like fingers.
    it is often true we can turn part of the blame back on ourselves. thanks for the reminder

    ReplyDelete
  10. just breathe..I used to scowl when anyone said that to me until I read this great article on what physically happens to us when we become flustered and enraged and it has to do with blood vessels and such....anyway-resulting in less oxygen flow to the brain, which then muddles our grey matter and since we can't think "straight" we make poor choices and decisions and curse and rage and..........


    just breathe.

    now, no scowling at me, honest it helps.....so does ranting about it publicly....
    my choice of late : D

    xxx

    z

    ReplyDelete
  11. What an intelligent way to deal with the day's frustrations!
    I am very impressed indeed.

    I see that I shall have to visit here more often.

    ReplyDelete
  12. great post and that shot is gorgeous too!!

    ReplyDelete
  13. cool post. speaks to me. If I got up earlier my life would be waaaay different :)just. can't. do. it.
    I also heard a quote similar to this effect the other day...."don't get angry that you can't change someone when you arent even succeeding at changing yourself" something like that, it was more eloquent then what I remember of it, but it hit the mark.

    ReplyDelete
  14. oh so many things can be frustrating at work. i am an assistant, and boy do i get annoyed with my boss. and i can only imagine how annoyed he is with me -- constantly!

    hope you have a good friday in store! :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. It is a good reminder; though sometimes it does takes standing back a bit to see it. Or maybe that's just me ... :)

    And what was with that guy on the phone?! Whatever.

    Anyway, here's wishes for a lovely weekend...

    ReplyDelete
  16. I think I lose it most quickly when I am driving and I am late and slow slow people are in front of me that seem to have no particular place to go or any motivation to get there anytime soon.....but yeah, if I just left a little earlier, there would be no problem!!! Three fingers back...definitely.

    ReplyDelete
  17. the ability to laugh at ourselves -- what would we do without it?

    ReplyDelete
  18. It is such a blessing to be able to see things from another perspective. But, sometimes a pain in the butt, too. Yes?

    ReplyDelete
  19. ooo I like this blog!! visit my blog.
    http://pacoberniyo.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. the ability to be really honest with oneself is such a blessing, isn't it? i like the three fingers saying -- how very true! hope you have a wonderful calm and happy weekend. :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. don't you just hate it when you are justifyably angry one minute and then the next you come up with all the things you could have done to stop the situation from happening in the first place I hate that! ha ha

    ReplyDelete

i feel as if each comment was between us as we sat and sipped something warm....i love to hear what you're thinking.