This morning while playing in the yard with my little boy a set of Robins were fighting over the tree in our front yard. They were screeching and at times you couldn’t tell if it was one bird or two. They were at each other like cats, dive bombing, flopping all over the place, and ruining their reputation as graceful creatures.
All of a sudden they flew right beside my face, the wind from their wings blowing my hair! Any bird in it’s right mind would be watching where he was going, but these guys were quite distracted with furry.
While my two year old squealed with delight and tried to chase the birds right into the tree, I was pondering the ways we’re like these birds.
Some times when we get angry with a friend or family member we lose all sense of what’s happening around us. We are too busy dive bombing the other person to see how foolish we look.
Anger is such a dangerous thing. It can turn a rational human being into a flopping, screaching Robin in no time at all. And afterwards, we regret things we’ve said or done.
I think it’s very important for us to find ways to channel our anger. We have to be prepared ahead of time, before we ever get angry.
As a child I learned what it takes for me to stay out of the bird fight. If I even started to feel anger, I’d go into my room and close the door. Then I’d just sit and read or look out the window till I calmed down. Later I figured out that if I could sit down and play the piano for a while I’d calm down. My family knew if I sat down and just played, ignoring everything around me, that I was just channeling anger, and calming myself.
To this day, I find playing a few songs on a piano or my guitar, or just getting out by myself is enough to help me focus on what’s really at hand. By the time I’m done I’m ready to address the issue in a grown up way – I’ve thought it all through and I no longer have to worry about doing something I’ll regret.
How do you handle your anger? Do you have precautions you take to avoid nasty conflicts?
