Hello, virtual neighbor! What’s happening your way these days? How are you taking care of your big, beautiful heart? The past five days, I’ve been home with my family because of a snow storm. So, you guessed it, I had to break out the doorknockers.
But, it didn’t matter. I woke up steaming mad on the fifth day. mean, the five of us had been home for five days with Not. One. Fun. Time. together. Unless you count shoveling. (which I don’t) I did review the personality types for all of us, and I concluded that I might be the only family member who gets a lot out of family time. (I’m an extroverted enneagram 2, after all.)
The day before, I tried to get my fam to go outside and build a snowman, complete with serenade. No happy scarf-covered faces greeted me, however.
So, in my anger, I did something that is always uncomfortable, but helpful. I meditated and wrote. (Like my process in The Freedom Shower.) I realized that I was placing too much of my happiness on whole-family happiness. So I decided to fill my own cup first and give my family-time post it note expectations. (I’m diving head-first into The Tao Te Ching, if you want to know.)
But, the tension still remained like a heavy brace anchored into my back. Weighing down my whole day. My tone of voice bordered on impolite. We came up with a new plan for a family activity: Ice Skating. I was not exactly looking forward to it, though.
Once I found myself alone, making quiet, happy laps on the ice, I knew I found the answer. My soggy mask let me know I was completing my stress cycle. And I enjoyed the rest of my day. Well, mostly.
So, beautiful friend, may you learn to pause, listen and be grateful for your anger. Because it is a teacher, though impatient it may be. And may you find the time to let it teach you, and work it out, back to its peaceful slumber.
