Frustration…
Most of us want to control our lives
Sometimes we can, sometimes we can’t
When we are inflicted by negative problems
If we can’t fix them, we feel the need to rant.
Now some folks call that complaining
Well, it’s all part of life’s continuous game
When anger and bitterness turn to frustration
Our emotions are hard to tame.
Take for instance this story:
No milk for my cereal this morning
My tire is flat on my car
I wait for more than an hour for triple A
Frustrated, I break my diet and raid the cookie jar.
I get to work and what do I hear
My boss yelling because I’m late
I protest that my flat tire couldn’t be helped
He roars angrily that I should learn to skate.
A hectic day of catching up finally ends
I leave the office on my way to the store
Lo and behold, another tire is flat
Is this my unlucky day or not, I roar.
My boss comes out, sees my predicament
Humbly offers to change my tire
Then I realize I don’t have a spare
Frustrated, I break into a self-pitying cry.
Angry, bitter, cantankerous, upset
My mood is mean as a bear
My voice has raised a timbre or two
And my face reflects a wide-eyed stare.
My boss hears my surly tone
And wants to turn and run away
But upon seeing my predicament
He volunteers to stay.
Then I apologize to him profusely
For temporary loss of dignified control
He smiled and laughed at me
Said it was normal behavior—all told.
Now is this frustration, I ask
Or is it anger and ire?
How would you feel and react
If you had a flat with no spare tire?
© 2008 Jeanette Cooper
Bookmarks
Share
Print
Save