Sometimes, I’m a Bitch: Having Gratitude and Conquering Irritability
I don’t know if it’s just me or if it’s because we’ve been inside for nearly a year, but my patience has worn thin.
It’s the little things that get to me — and I hate it.
My Amazon package delivery of sponges being delayed through the weekend or hearing my roommate sing Taylor Swift in the shower through my house’s thin walls should not fill me with rage. But yet, here I am — fuming.
And for what reason? Because I have to wait two more days to clean my kitchen with a fresh sponge or the fact that my friend is simply expressing her happiness? What’s gotten into me? Have I just become an awful person?
For the past few weeks, I’ve been in a state of complete irritability and I can’t seem to shake it.
So of course, I called my mom — and cried.
Except that only helped for like 15 minutes because then I got annoyed at my mom for just telling me, “Everything is going to be okay.” Yep, I was officially becoming the most awful person to be around.
My mother was trying to comfort me and I was being a crotchety old man. I had to consider my other options.
So I developed a three-pronged approach to conquering my irritability. It is as follows:
- Do at least one thing for me every day.
- Keep a positive outlook.
- Have gratitude.
Doing at least one thing for me every day involves doing something not out of expectation from others, but just for me. I want to do something that is guaranteed to bring me joy.
It could be a bubble bath while I read a book (preferably one that’s not required by a class), eating a whole sleeve of Girl Scout cookies (I’m a Thin Mints and Caramel deLites girl), or running the dryer with just my blanket so I can be extra warm while I drink my tea.
Next up is noticing when I’m looking at something from a negative perspective, then actively switching to a positive one.
I could be bummed that the restaurant I wanted to order food from closed early, or I could recognize that it’s better to save money and cook the groceries I have at home.
Finally, at the end of every day, I will sit down and physically say the things I’m grateful for. This will help me remind myself of all the good in my life. Sure, everything is less than ideal this year. But that doesn’t mean the good isn’t there, too.
And since I’m writing this blog at the end of my day, I thought I’d do this last exercise right now with you all.
I’m grateful for my family’s health.
I’m grateful for green tea ice cream.
I’m grateful for the education I’ve received.
And I’m grateful for the adorable puppy that my sister just adopted.
