Doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome defines insanity.
For three years the same man has been calling me here at the Record-Bee. He is furious about his homeowners association. He wants me to write an article and expose how unfair the organization is, and has been for more than 20 years.
Fair. Life is not fair. It is good, but not fair. The only fair I know features deep-fried food, carnival rides and games I never win.
I had a friend where I used to live whose neighbor had derailed following her husband”s death. Her husband died of a drug overdose. His wife was in the dark about his addiction until his death, which brought the woman to her knees psychologically. But this isn”t about her, it”s about my friend.
The neighbor had an idea that my friend, who had just retired after 35 faithful years of employment with the telephone company, was on drugs. Consequently the woman began videotaping my friend”s home and harassing her. It escalated into legal battles that went on for years. I told my friend to move but she didn”t want the crazy lady next door to force her out of her dream home that she”d saved for all of her life. She didn”t want the neighbor to win.
So there, now there are two losers. Whatever the existential reason for the cataclysmic collision of these two people, the outcome is ridiculous. My friend deprived herself of a peaceful retirement and wasted years of her precious life. I would have moved. Ralph Waldo Emerson wrote, “For every minute you remain angry, you give up 60 seconds of peace of mind.”
Similarly, if I were unhappy with my homeowners association to the point of being immersed in rage, I would move.
My friend Marv just moved. He had a great big house. He initially got the place to “impress the ladies,” he said. The view of the lake was grand, but he said he couldn”t afford to do what he wanted to do with his life. He wants to travel, so he”s getting a motorhome. Right on, Marv.
Movement isn”t limited to where a person resides though. My friend”s mind was immoveable. She was stubborn enough to self-destruct.
I was irritated recently. I realized the space in my head was filling with negativity.
Medical research proves that even if you exercise or eat correctly, you are putting yourself at risk if you do not manage your anger.
Chronic anger often results in peptic ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, intestinal cramping, hiccups, chronic indigestion, heart attacks, strokes, kidney problems, obesity, colds and anger reduces the heart”s ability to properly pump blood.
People who suppress anger often have skin diseases such as rashes, hives, warts, eczema and acne.
As I was driving to work on South Main, I noticed a couple in a maroon Ford pickup in front of me. They were singing and playing air drums and laughing.
I wanted to feel that way. So I had to change my mind and give up the ghost.
Thank you, anonymous couple in the Ford pickup.
What”s occupying the space in your head?
“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.” ? Buddha
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee news editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 Ext. 32.
