Stopping the Hate: Calming Down

Got up today and read a nice quote on a friend's facebook and I thought I would share it:

"When you hate, you're only hurting yourself. Because the ones you hate either don't know or don't care." - Medgar Evers, American civil rights activist

I know this quote probably applies to a certain thing but I kinda like it as a life philosophy. Over the years I've had a lot of ranting and hate. I'm always angry about this or that thing. And when I am driving, OH BOY when I am driving!!! I let it all fly out. Everyone who cuts me off, does something stupid on the road gets an earfull... in my car. They don't hear it. I just like to raise my blood pressure and then get my family worked up in the process. Its not right and its only me letting things penetrate my wall of happiness and serenity.

I used to be really bad. I'd constantly be ranting about this or that celebrity. This or that political debate. I've long since dropped those. I listen to the "HOLLYWOOD BABYLON" Podcast and I hear someone like Ralph Garmond rant about the things I used to rant about, and I laugh (cause its entertaining), but his partner Kevin is always like "Why the hate man? Just let them like what they like. How does it effect you?" I like Kevin's approach, in fact, I feel the same way. About 5 years ago, I'd say Justin Beiber should die with a feral cat sewed up his asshole. But today, I just think "Well, people like what they like and thats fine. I'll just go like this over here. Cause what they like over there doesn't effect me." And that philosophy has worked well for me. Its made me less angry.

However I still have work to do in my head about things. I could be even less angry still. I'd love to take that same philosophy and apply it to day to day life and not get angry about little things. It seems silly. I'm driving and some ass cuts me off. I let it all out and rant and rave and then they turn off and I rant for another minute and then on with my life, forgetting it ever happened. Why even do that? Such a waste of time and expense of energy. There's so much anger in the world already, why add to it?

When I am in a social situation of a delay, I hear everyone around me complain. Like say you go to the Secretary of State to renew a license or to the post office or something. There's a huge line always. And people stand in line and complain. "Oh this is rediculous!" They go on and on, bumming out everyone in line. I say "yeah, it does suck, okay? No denying that. But if we just calm down and just shut up, the wait doesn't have to be as miserable." In other words, THERE'S A HUGE SHIT SANDWICH IN THE WORLD AND EVERYONE HAS TO TAKE A BITE.

So as much as I have personally improved over the last few years on things, I still feel I got some cobwebs to sort out in my head. And the good thing is that I am on my way. I've long since quit following people online who just sit and talk down or rant about things or speak negative all the time. Its not conductive to a positive environment I want to run. I still read the headlines and some of it makes me angry, so I will sometimes bring it to the attention of others. Cannot help that. But a rant about it will not solve it. An ONLINE ARGUEMENT will not solve it. Gotta make my voice heard in the polls or a signed petition. Something of progress that my system allows. Just like I vote with my dollars on what music or movies I want to support, I shall do the same with the rest. The real challenge is me driving. If I can get into the headspace of realizing what a waste of time it is to rant and all it does is ramp up my poor family or whoever is riding with me, I'd be good.

So I am gonna work on that. I want to cultivate a better head space. I just don't want to be an angry person anymore. I've come a long way, sure. But I could always do more. While I certainly enjoy those who make the angry rants and jokes about things I am not particularly fond of, it doesn't mean I have to add to it outside of an entertainment outlet (like one of my podcasts, etc). But as far as day to day, I just need to stop. Grow up a bit and just shut the fuck up. I'll get a lot farther and I'll be a hell of a lot happier. No need to encourage a heart attack any more than I already have.

Bare with me.

T