Don't Poke the Bear

Don’t talk to me.  Don’t look at me.  If you can avoid it, don’t come within a hundred yards of me.

I am in a bad mood.  

It’s quarter after six and I’m trying to get out of the house in time for an early meeting.  I overslept, of course.  I couldn't find my shoes or a pair of matching socks.  And my keys have gone missing as well.  So now I am rushing around to get myself together and out the door.

When I walk into the kitchen to get my coffee, Ken gives me a chirpy “Good Morning.”  I growl at him. 

“Why are you in such a good mood?”  He says, sarcasm dripping from his chin.

I growl again.

I don’t know why I am in a bad mood.  I just am.  Maybe it’s the fact that I have not had time to exercise this week to release my pent up aggressions.  Maybe it’s the fact that I had to drag my butt out of bed for a 7:15 meeting.  (7:15, really?  Who does that!)  Maybe it’s the fact that Beth (3) climbed into my bed at 4 a.m. asking repeatedly for hugs and kisses and that I didn’t fall back asleep until two minutes before my alarm went off.

I could go on.

“You know.” Ken says.  “There are people in the world who are much worse off than you.  Tsunamis.  Earthquakes.  Nuclear meltdowns.   And you’re complaining about a few missed minutes under your covers?”

I raise my right eyebrow at Ken and down a half liter of coffee.  “Don’t poke the bear.” I snarl.  I refuse to be guilted out of my bad mood.  Because sometimes, a bad mood is what I need. 

As it happens, I recently read an excerpt from Allure Magazine which supports my theory.  Allure reported that research has shown that “grumpy people were more detail-oriented, less gullible, and made higher-quality, more persuasive arguments.”  By these standards, I will be the most successful person in my office today.

But seriously, there is some truth in the matter.  Bad moods, some would argue, are as necessary as good moods.  Bad, after all, is the complement of good.  One cannot exist without the other.  It’s like Yin and Yang. Night and day.  Sunny and stormy. 

Think about it.  If you were never sad, how could you truly appreciate the power of happy.  If you never felt low, you could never understand the glory of having your spirit  up-lifted. 

So that’s my plan folks.  Today, I intend to honor my bad mood.  I intend to savor it.  To relish it.  To celebrate it.  To thoroughly enjoy it.

And while I do, if you are wise, you will stay out of my way.  And don’t poke the bear.

Photos courtesy of and through all rights declared at this location: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brown_bear.jpg  and http://images3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20110228193028/muppet/images/1/1d/Ss3.jpg