Ironically enough, I did not not post yesterday on MY TEMPER because I was in a shitty mood, in a severe amount of pain (headache,year-long toothache, and sinus infections as well as fibro noise). I spent most of the day doing the bidding of the people who live in my house that I support, and what time I did have to my myself, I took OTC pain killers (like I do every day), and I slept. I actually took a 2 1/2 hour nap, but the older kid woke me up and told me to get up, drive her and her friend to the movies (which I paid for). I got up, did so, and then lingering, bought a third ticket and went to see a movie by myself. The husband refused to go to dinner with me Friday night, as being unemployed is exhausting apparently, and then refused to go to lunch or to the movies with me yesterday. There won't be a fourth invitation. At any rate, I went to see a movie alone yesterday. It was fine. The movie was "Gangster Squad." It wasn't earth-movingly good, but it was entertaining and I didn't hate any of the characters. It had an actual plot. There was some good acting. (Sorry, apparently, my temper makes me a shitty movie critic.)
So on to temper. I have quite the temper. Although, from all accounts, I have earned it. I've had the great fortune to have been raised by, grown up with, and married into situations where I was the last priority - or no priority - for the people around me. I learned early to keep quiet, not raise a fuss, be the model child, what everyone wanted me to be. This was a matter of convenience for them, and set a pretty high bar of being neither seen nor heard as a pinnacle of perfection. Everyone's needs trumped mine, even as a child. My sister's sickness, illness, whatever, meant she needed more care and attention. This created a bonding between her and my mother which, however dysfunctional, will never be broken - and fortunately for me, I am not a part of it. This is a blessing as it simplifies things for me greatly. Then my mother's horses, my dad's hobbies, all came before me. It was perfectly acceptable to go care for horses miles away on a daily basis, but driving me to orchestra practice one a week was a pain in the ass, not to be endured.
All this is in the past and cannot be changed. But it did set the stage for me to enmesh myself with other users, marry a couple of them, and to this day wear myself out doing what they are unwilling, too lazy to do or what they find repugnant. Like work a job. Support themselves. Take responsibility for anything. Plan and cook a decent, balanced meal.
Much of the time I trudge through my life working 12-18 hour days, occasionally going to an Al-Anon meeting when I can finish work before 6:30PM, and then eating and trying to sleep 2-4 hours between bouts of excruciating physical pain where I wish to be delivered by death - which I find more likely to occur than health insurance or health care I can afford, before I start the day all over again.
Forgive my lack of Pollyanna cheer most days.
Being in physical pain makes me a bitch. Pure and simple. Chronic physical pain makes my temper much worse. My fuse is shorter when I hurt.
This apparently defeats the ideal that was instilled in me from childhood - to be angry, or demand any attention at all makes one imperfect. Wrong. Repugnant. Bad.
Whatever.
I work now with people with disabilities. I teach a 10-12 hour training at least quarterly on Crisis Prevention and Intervention. In doing that, I make a huge priority to explain that anger can be a reasonable reaction, and sometimes the only way people can get their needs met. And that to prevent angry outbursts, maybe we should get to know people and understand their needs. And help, where we can, to assist them in getting their needs met. Because then there would be less use or need for anger. I honestly believe this.
Wish I was smart enough to use it in my own life.
Ah, in 2014, when the government here is supposed to sponsor/offer/promote health care, maybe I will have less of a temper because I won't be in physical pain. That is, unless the ultra-Conservatives/Republicans who only want the rich to live and the poor to die from lack of health care once again have their way.
Maybe my temper will be lessened when Republicans stop trying to kill us (sorry, maybe some hyperbole there. What I mean was "stop trying to let us die.").
Maybe not.
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