It's been awhile since I've been angry. I've been frustrated, I've had to vent, I've been irritated and annoyed at times over the last few months, but it's been awhile since I've been angry. That ended today when I got a message from a certain employee who works for DHEC. (All I want is to be able to file my taxes. Is it too much to ask that you send my W-2 to the right address?) Now, normally I'd try to get over the angry feeling quickly, but today I realized the benefits of being angry and decided to remain in that state for some time.
First benefit? Exercising is much easier. I was so angry at this employee that I totally forgot to care how out of breath I was or how much time I had left to go. This isn't the first time I've noticed this phenomenon. Coincidentally, the last time I angry exercised was about a year ago, when I was angry at DHEC as an agency. Hmm...
The second benefit was to the house. Housework is usually pretty boring, and it's a chore just to stay interested in the task long enough to finish cleaning. Tonight, however, I kept trying to make sense of this whole mess, and by the time I finally decided to stop trying to make the senseless make sense, my dishes were clean, the floor was mopped, and the trash was gathered.
Lastly, anger takes away my perception of temperature. Today I wore a light sweater with 3/4 length sleeves. You might say, "Kate, it was only 23° when you got home tonight." True, but that didn't keep me from leaving my coat in the car as I walked into the store. When someone in the store asked, "Aren't you cold?" I realized that, yes, I was physically cold, but my anger kept me from realizing that fact.
Now that it's 9:30 at night, I'm no longer angry. Don't get me wrong, I'm still very annoyed, and at least one person is getting a letter tomorrow explaining my annoyance, but I'm not angry. Which is good, because easier exercise and a clean house is not worth high blood pressure and the release of cortisol. Now excuse me while I decide whether my letter is going to be "Southern polite" or "Yankee brusque." The result remains to be seen...
