Save Your Mad for Something Bigger

by Geri Mason

There are so many things that can make you mad on a daily basis.  You get mad because your alarm didn’t go off and you overslept.  You get mad because the person behind you is blowing the horn as soon as the light turns green.  They don’t know that you had an accident less than two weeks ago, therefore you are nervous at every stop. 
 
I drove to the homeless shelter to drop off some items the other day.  As I approached the location of the homeless shelter, I realized that they now have a new building.  My GPS is telling me that I have arrived at my destination, but I don’t see it.  I decided to make a phone call for further instructions and I got the voice mail.  I pushed the number that said, “If you want to make a donation…….”, and I got another voice mail.  As I listened to the automated voice it said, that clothing, household items, and toys are not acceptable donations.  I didn’t have any toys, but I did have clothing and bedding.  Now I’m mad!  I drove twenty minutes to donate to an organization that does not accept the items that I have.  I turned around and my next thought was, “I’ll head to the Thrift Store on my side of town and drop off these items, everything except the new socks, which I plan to keep.”  As I look across the field I see a “Tent City” (A group of homeless people who have set up tents on a vacant lawn).  I make a U-turn and park beside the open field.  I open my trunk and take the items to the first person that I see.  I explain my situation and frustration to a lady and asked her if they can use the items that I have.  She responded, “Yes ma’am, I appreciate it.”  Then I ask her to share the socks with others.  She assured me that she would, because they always share their stuff, she said. 
 
There will be times when your plan does not work the way you write it down.  Some of our best results come from how we handle unforeseen circumstances.  We can choose to get mad and remain in that space until it sucks the life out of us, or we can look at life through a different lens.  The choice is ours.  Save your mad for something bigger!