Tuesday, September 23, 2008

“I had not always bleared eyes and red eyelids; neither did my nose always touch my chin...”










Were you ever told that people don't want to be around someone who is moody?

I'm not sure I've ever been given that advice directly, in so many words, but let's face it, it's advice like that that makes the world go round -- and sure, often the sentiment itself is true enough.

But you know, sometimes you just have to say, "Screw it," and be moody anyway.

I am happy to report that the week is going better, for no reason perhaps, other than that time has elapsed.

And with that, I leave you with the inimitable words of Marge Simpson:
“...it doesn't matter how you feel inside, you know? It's what shows up on the surface that counts. That's what my mother taught me. Take all your bad feelings and push them down, all the way down, past your knees until you're almost walking on them. And then you'll fit in, and you'll be invited to parties, and boys will like you, and happiness will follow.”

6 comments:

Ladrón de Basura (a.k.a. Junk Thief) said...

To my mind, the only thing worse than being stuck in a bad mood is being stuck in a mood-free world. I've been stuck in the latter a few times, also known as being numb. A few words from the sage Marge Simpson and remembering that all things good and bad are transitory usually helps me find my way to the other side.

Papagayo said...

I was thinking about this the other day. I all of a sudden had a horrible mood come over me while with someone I love a lot, and I wear my heart on my sleeve to such a degree there is never any hiding my violent mood swings. In those situations, it's horrible! How do we, as moody adults, let people know these issues aren't theirs, but ours? I'm struggling with this right now, trying to regulate my lows....

BigAssBelle said...

Oh hell, I wrote a big long missive, but it all boils down to this: we can't change who we are and if folks don't like it, fuck 'em.

I had a cousin who constantly badgered me about smiling. "Smile! People will love you when you smile!" Well I didn't feel like fucking smiling. Marge has it wrong. The only way out is through. I can only stuff and deny the way I feel for so long and then it erupts ~ for me ~ in episodes of dangerous intensity.

Going through ~ not around or over or burying it or tunneling under ~ is the only way I can get past the mood of the day.

Marge is full of shit ;-) Glad you're feeling better.

Salty Miss Jill said...

I'm with you on this one, Joe. Being Moody. I've been triply angry because my usual ego defense-altruism-is being so supressed at work these days. Which is why I'm coming home and drinking every night.
feh. You should come to NYC this Saturday! First round on me, darling!

Joe said...

Thanks for the notes, everyone.

Papagayo: I think if you're close to someone, you can just be as honest as you can about it the way you wrote it above. If your relationship is a little more casual and you have to broach this it's a little harder, but being just frank and saying "I know I'm moody sometimes and I'm sorry if that affects our work relationship sometimes" -- I had to do that this summer more than once! It's difficult... I don't think we need to "stuff" everything, but we also need to be hyper-vigilant about how much we let out.

lynette: what can I say, but thanks for the support. The thing I left out of that Marge quote is that immediately afterward, she sees the effect it has on her daughter, starts growling, realizes her folly, and takes it all back.

jill: I'm betting that the difference between you and me is that you don't let it show at work -- I bet you're as sweet as pie at the receptionist desk even when faced with absolute stupidity. My foible is that I let my moodiness and impatience show sometimes, and that can make things... difficult.

I'm really not an asshole -- I'm just drawn that way!

Papagayo said...

oh joe. i'm with a very sensitive younger man who is great! wonderful! lovely! but i've been on my own for so long that sometimes his exuberance! excitement! naivite! annoys the shit out of me. in cases like this, i'm in this position of not wanting to squash his youthful excitement with my cynicism, so it's almost like i want to hide it from him... and the mirror reflects back on me in such an unflattering light. it's the hardest part about my first foray into the world of romantic love.