Finding Your Temper

I found a new writing prompt site called The One-Minute Writer.  I was supposed to write about this prompt for only one minute, but when the time was up, I found I wasn't done.  Leave it to me to stretch one minute into five, huh?  Anyway, the prompt was "When you 'lose your temper' where is the best place to find it?"


Sometimes when you lose your temper you don't want to find it.  Remember that jerk in the Mercedes who cut you off in traffic.  Let that one go.

Sometimes you have to find it.  Remember the idiot at work who never does anything but brown-nose the boss?  Remember how you went off on him the other day?  Find your temper in your paycheck, because you have to make it work out especially in this economy.

But sometimes you lose your temper with someone you love.  Your children may be playing loudly or fighting after you've had a difficult day at work.  Before you know it your frustration bubbles over and you scream at them.  You realize they are just being children when you look in their eyes and see the hurt and confusion.

Now what?

Gather your babies in your arms and hold them tight.  You'll find your temper and find it easy to bury it deep inside you again.  You'll chain it down tight and vow to never lose it with them again.  Your intentions are pure but you know you will lose it again one day.

Don't think about that now.  Think about that later.  For now just enjoy the infinite love and forgiveness flowing from your babies.


Copyright © 2011 Denise Duggan