Confessions of a Practical Blonde: Calming the Hulk Inside
 |
| Sharon Leary: You wouldn't like her angry. |
I'm angry. You might recall this famous line from the television show, "Don't make me angry Mr. Mcgee, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry."
When I get angry I don't turn green and my clothes don't get ripped into shreds — but I feel like I could pick up the coffee table or file cabinet in my living room and throw it against the wall.
Why am I angry? There are so many reasons to be angry. The trick is not to let it get to the point where the inner Hulk takes over. Most of the time I don't let it get to me. But I think I've reached my breaking point. Here’s a sample of some of things that are making my blood boil.
Gas Prices
The last time I filled up my CRV I paid $3.55 a gallon. It came close to $40 to fill up. Luckily, my job is very close to home and I don't travel further than Adams or Williamstown each week.
Many of my co-workers, however, have to travel from Pittsfield and beyond to get to work each day. I know that some of my friends, family and co-workers are starting to feel the pinch in their wallet.
My CRV gets good gas mileage, but I know many folks who have gas guzzlers. It wasn't a big deal when the gas prices remained stable. As I drive through town, I wonder how those who drive Hummers and some of the older SUVs are doing.
I have relatives and close friends who live more than 50 miles away. I've found myself contemplating future trips home and budgeting an extra $40 plus to cover the cost of the trip. Granted the benefit of seeing family and friends outweighs the costs, but it's still something I need to consider. It also puts a damper on the spur-of-the-moment trips home or abroad and that makes me angry.
I want to know why the gas prices keep going up?! I also want to know why we Americans are not making more noise! Maybe I should watch the mainstream news more often — but I honestly feel I get more information from Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert than I do from Charlie Gibson or Katie Couric.
2008 Election
So what else makes me angry? How about the spectacle the 2008 presidential election has turned into? I normally stay away from politics because I know I am just asking for trouble, but I want answers. I have a hard time watching the Barack/Hillary show. Each week we have a new controversy. This week we have been treated to the Rev. Jeremiah Wright's rants.
At this point I have no idea who should get the Democratic nomination. We have two historic candidates. I understand that both these candidates want this nomination, but right now I would prefer that the scrapping over delegates stop and that one of them be the bigger person for the sake of the Democratic Party and stand up for the American people and say enough is enough.
Someone, step up to the plate. I don't care who. McCain, Obama and Clinton are you listening? Here's your chance to show us who you really are. Stop waiting in the wings, get out there and talk about why the oil prices keep rising. Don't give us silly short-term solutions; I want long-term plans.
Tell us you are annoyed that food prices are rising. Sympathize with the millions of families who work two, three and even four jobs to make ends meet. Show some indignation and ask for accountability for the reasons why the poorest people in New Orleans are not back in their homes three years after Katrina. Explain to us why the dollar's value keeps dropping.
I want to know the answers to these questions now, not after the Democratic Primary has been decided. Tell us how you are going to help us come out of this recession.
Honk With Compassion
I realized that my inner Hulk was about to emerge recently, as I was sitting at a red light on River Street.
I was the first car in line. I noticed a pedestrian who wanted to cross the street which I would be turning onto. So I kept my eye on the pedestrian as the light turned green, and I waited for the pedestrian to cross. Not milliseconds after I had made that decision, the horn from the gas-guzzling truck directly behind me blared repeatedly.
I felt the adrenaline surge and I could feel my inner Hulk awake. But then I remembered the best defense against the inner Hulk — a smile. I smiled and let the driver continue to honk, I let the cars opposite me turn left first and then I turned right. It was my remedy against doing something stupid like screaming at the guy behind me.
Whatever happened to patience and giving a person some time? Americans have developed a taste for immediate gratification and a need for speed. Compassion for our fellow human and non-human beings has also gone by the way side.
It doesn't take much to show some compassion for others — hold the door for the person behind you, smiling and striking up a conversation with a senior at a grocery store, picking up trash as you walk the dog, donating food or your time to a local charity. This is another way you can combat the inner Hulk.
There are many other issues that tempt the inner hulk inside of me each day — the neverending war in Iraq and Afghanistan, having no spare time, not being able to follow my dream and my reluctance to say no to additional work or projects when I know I should.
We all deal with anger in different ways. I deal with it by writing about my inner Hulk or just writing in general. I'm curious about what makes you angry and how you tame your inner Hulk, so let me know.
