Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Righteous Indignation

I've always wondered about the term righteous indignation. I've wondered if it can apply to a mere person like me. It will be interesting to see, because this week I practiced a little of it.

I've had an on-going problem with my inlaws. By on-going, I mean 21 years. I have always tried to be nice, and bite my tongue to keep peace. I also knew that my status of inlaw could very quickly turn to that of "outlaw". Through out the years, there have been times when my temper flared and I did speak up. I never really let anyone have the full bore of my wrath though. I tried to negotiate, to talk sense. I tried not to burn any bridges, not for my sake, but for the sake of my husband and children.

All this time I have warned my husband about the possibility of my exploding. I know from experience that I can only hold it in so long, then if I am pushed too far, it all comes pouring out. It happened this week, and you know what? I feel like a great weight was lifted off me. I'm to the point that I don't care if I burned every bridge if that was what was needed to say what I said. It's such a liberating feeling to tell it like it is, and not care about the consequences.

I'm not so cold or hateful to close all doors. I can argue with someone, yell at them, raise all the indignation my soul posseses to stop what I percieve as abuse, but in the end I can still accept them and carry on a normal relationship with them. It will be interesting to see if they can do the same. But make no mistake, I've reached my limit and will tolerate no more.

I decided to add this edit. My sister listed some quotable quotes on her blog, I found two very applicable to this post.

"If you judge people, you have no time to love them." -Mother Teresa

"No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible." - Stanislaw Jerzy Lee

2 comments:

Symbiosis said...

Thank you for visiting my blog and looking up metrosexual for us!...I hope doc finds the answer satisfactory!..
Yes I know exactly what you are talking abt...been there done that...not just once but many times...i am known to be outspoken and never let anyone think otherwise...lol...
I still dont know what the right answer is sometimes...I know if i hold things in too long that means my relationship with that person will suffer and so i prefer to get it all out...but sometimes the relationship suffers regardless..contrary to popular belief turns out people dont appreciate the truth as much...so I am not sure what the right strategy is...i guess for me listening to my heart works so i will continue doing that...maybe i will have to grow up and start pretending sometime soon!

Delirious said...

Since you like Emily Dickinson, here is a poem by her for you:

MINE enemy is growing old,—
I have at last revenge.
The palate of the hate departs;
If any would avenge,—

Let him be quick, the viand flits, 5
It is a faded meat.
Anger as soon as fed is dead;
’T is starving makes it fat.