Anger in its place

May assume a kind of grace

If it has some reason in it

and never lasts

beyond a minute.

Awhile back I happened upon a book of Betsey Clark illustrations paired with simple everyday type proverbs. I was delighted and have plans to convert the book into a bit of wall art for my home as I have a large love for this nostalgic artwork. This one caught my eye this past week on a particularly long day. My dear Jr. was having a time and spent several small spans being angry with me throughout the day.

Anger would come.
It would be present in the moment.
And then the anger would be smaller
And finally fade away.

Finding Jr. being better off for the flare and then the letting go. While it was frustrating to be there at the time on reflection I was pleased to see some of our family philosophies in play. I’ve long had a personal philosophy that one shouldn’t hold anger to long. So I embrace it! Hug it close! Wrap myself up in it! Then I let it go with an active thought. I recent years I’ve even been known to say “I’m not putting my energy there.” Family squabbles and squibbles aren’t worth the toll to myself when I’m terminally angry. It becomes like a disease in my soul.

Now just to keep it honest here – I’m not always that good at following my own philosophy but it is one that I work at everyday. And I’d like to think that’s what counts in this case. At the end of the day (or at least the end of these recent days) I’d rather be focused on the fact that it has been a long few weeks for us all. And that we are all glad to see it fade away towards spring.