Holiday Rage

Some people would argue that road rage is very understandable around this time of year. What with Christmas coming up, I’ve noticed all the old people, people without driver’s licenses and people out for a Sunday drive (on a Friday) are out and about. It’s amazing that these people find it necessary to drive during the holidays (when they wouldn’t even consider it during the year). Are their loved ones so special they must risk a major car accident that will not only affect their family but also mine? Guess so.

I also guess that road rage was invented for times when people don’t want to take accountability for their own actions. It’s like pleading impaired mental ability. Or insanity. “But officer, he cut me off and I was really pissed. I plead road rage. I shouldn’t have to be accountable for my actions. I wasn’t in my right mind.” This has become the credo for our society these days. “I wasn’t in my right mind.” “I’m sorry people of New Orleans, I was on vacation when Katrina hit—I had vacation rage” (that’s when you can’t do your job so you go on vacation 12 times a year—to avoid making the tough decisions). “I lost my job so I killed all the employees. I had employee rage” (I was angry because they were still employees and I was now a “disgruntled employee” so I showed them). “But my son broke my favorite vase and didn’t even feel remorse, so I killed him. I had parent rage” (that’s when you NEVER should have been a parent to begin with). “The line at the airport was really long, so I figured I’d weed it out by killing a few passengers. I had airport rage” (all the “security” which makes people want to go screaming from the plane only heighten this!). None of these things are justifiable. But we as a nation seem to feel that if we can blame someone else (or something else) then we’re off the hook. “The operator put me on hold for six minutes during a 911 call, so I blew up the 911 headquarters! I had 911 rage!”

Get a life—take accountability for your actions. Rage is controllable. It is not a disease. It is not an excuse.

With the holidays and all the stress everyone’s under—if necessary, take a chill pill! Don’t get caught up in Holiday Rage. Buy a gift card.

(This message brought to you by someone who likes gift cards!)