Dry your eyes... And put your toughskin back on.
-- Big Mama (from the Showtime series “Soul Food”)

“Ba-blam!!” you slam the door as you walk in the house after another long day of grueling and pointless work. You pace for a while, then stand akimbo drumming your foot. You just can’t believe it.

Once again, things did not go your way; they didn’t work out the way you’d planned. You thought things would go one way and they turned out much differently. And now you’re crushed, disappointed. Actually, you’re angry – no, you’re pissed off. You can’t figure out what made them do such a thing when everything was set and settled to take off. And their attitudes! They gave you so much grief when all you were was kind and considerate. You could have spent your time doing something else, but no, you spent it trying to make that thing work and, now, look what’s happened! Not what you planned at all. It makes you so mad thinking about it you could just... just... cuss! Well, just who the blankety do they think they are blanking up your blank blank program?!

And this isn’t the first time. Everyday they mess with your thing. They just won’t leave you alone! They’ve got something to say about every little thing. And because you’re so passionate about and committed to the thing, it hurts when they toy with you. Really, what they’re doing is messing with your heart strings, pulling at them and jerking you this way and that way. Sometimes you can ignore them, most days, they’re right in your face aggravating the blank out of you. You’re so frustrated and hurt you fall on the couch and cry buckets of tears, pleading to the heavens for these beep-beeps to stop and leave you the blip-blip-blop alone.

So be angry, be sad, and never let anybody convince you it’s not okay to be angry or sad. Those are basic emotions. And never let anyone tell you that when you’re angry or sad you shouldn’t curse, cuss, or cry. Those are expressions of your emotions. Sometimes just letting it all out solves the problem, or at least alleviates the frustrations mounting inside so they don’t eat you up and cause all types of stress-related illnesses. Cuss and fuss about it; cry about it, even throw a full-fledged private tantrum, letting your legs and arms flail and your fist hit the floor repeatedly. Get you a good workout

Just be careful you don’t hurt yourself in your tirades. And be careful that when you cuss and throw fits you’re in a private place. No need of burning bridges you may still need to get the thing done.

Then, after you cuss, fuss, and cry, straighten your clothes and dry your eyes, get something cool to drink. Pray about it, ask God for help and healing (and to quickly repair any damage you caused as a result of your explosion), listen to what’s being said inside of you, then, pop your collar, go back out there and give ‘em hell while you do what you do best - your thing.

Blankety-blank blank what they’ve got to say, and never let them see you sweat!

Sadiqqa © 2007