How to Listen to Your Anger
Anger is energy with a message, and it’s talking to you For years, I was known in my friend group as “the calm one.” I took this label as a compliment because it meant I was stable. I could handle stress well. I could use a well-modulated voice and carefully chosen words in a conflict. I could articulate rather than emote. I felt these were worthy accomplishments and signs of superiority — clear indications that I wasn’t a weak, emotional creature, but a strong, stable, mature, logical person. Ha, hahaha, ha. I carried this idea of myself for years (years!) until a small incident broke it open — and broke me down. Illustrations: Annie Mueller We were on the beach. My oldest daughter, 10 at the time, was coming out of the water. She was hopping and playing in the surf when a dog ran up, jumped at her, and bit her on the ankle. It wasn’t a bad bite; it didn’t even break the skin. She was physically fine but she was scared. I was sitting a few yards away ...