Friday, May 11, 2012

Friday Loose Bloggers Consortium: Moods

Some Fridays I'm not really in the mood to write about the topic that was chosen. Sometimes that is because it is a difficult topic, but sometimes that is because I'm just not in the mood. But what I have found is that if I just start tackling the assignment, I soon get in the mood.

I have a theory that moody people are either just trying to get attention, or are trying to control other people. And it does work to a degree, because they do get attention. And people do often jump to try to salve their mood. But I think that in the long run, moodiness doesn't pay. I'm thinking, in particular, of a friend of mine who has a lot of health problems, and will soon be forced to live in a care center. When she is in the hospital, and things don't go her way, she yells and threatens to leave. And in fact, she has left the hospital several times, against doctor's orders, even when she needed to be there. I keep picturing her living in a care center, and I imagine what will happen when things don't go her way. I'm sure she will get in a sour mood and start yelling and carrying on. The nurses will scramble in and try to get her to calm down. But in the long run, this kind of behavior will work against her, just as it works against all moody people.

What my friend, and other moody people can't foresee, is that in the long run, they will be very lonely people. If you are pricked by a sharp cactus thorn, you will be sure to keep your distance. The same goes for people who are afflicted by the moodiness of others. My friend will find that the nurses in the care center won't go the extra mile to make her happy. In fact, they will probably avoid her except when necessary.

Being moody may pay off in the moment. It may give us control over people immediately so that we get what we want. But in the long run, moodiness just alienates us from others. Just as our grandparents used to say, it really is true that you "catch more flies with honey".

I wonder if the other consortium members are feeling moody today. If you would like to find out, please check their links below! :)

Rummuser, Anu, Ashkok, Gaelikka, Grannymar, , Padmum, Magpie11, andAkanksha,Will Knot, Maria the Silver Fox, Anki, Nema Noor Paul Plain Joe, and Rohit
and The Old Fossil, and our newest member MAXI!

11 comments:

Grannymar said...

I'm with you on moody people looking for attention. People who are REALLY sick have no energy to shout, roar or complain. Mammy had a saying 'Empty vessels make the most noise.' they are just looking for attention.

Now I am off to sit quietly in a corner and do my knitting. ;)

Rummuser said...

Ditto Grannymar's comment. I am living with one!

Delirious said...

Ahh Shackman you are so right! I didn't think about the positive moods. Do you think people can control others with positive moods?

The Old Fossil said...

Hmmm ... is shackman's comment in spam for you, too? I can't see it here and every comment on my Blogger blog goes to spam from him.

But, that aside, you indeed have hit on one of the more self-indulgent and self-destructive aspects of moods. I couldn't agree more with the aspects you are pointing to.

Maxi said...

You are so right, and it's by choice.

Each day we awake the choice is ours, to be happy or sad.

Moody people tend to be the latter.

Blessings - Maxi

Delirious said...

Yes Fossie, I don't know why, but Shackman's comments come to my email, but don't show up here. I"ll post it.

Delirious said...

From Shackman: But D - isn't being in a good mood also being moody? Since when does being moody only suggest negativity? Squeaky wheels have much in common with empty vessels GM - and empty suits. Wait - those are politicians - do they even count???

Anonymous said...

Moody people - enough! One or two I can cope with at a time. But that's enough. Luckily there are trees and clouds to contemplate.

ocdwriter said...

That is quite true and yet being fully conscious of the possibility of loneliness, one really can't help one's moods. There are forces beyond one's conscious control and sometimes medication is the only thing that can help. But it is a very valid observation, one which notwithstanding mood swings, all of us should be mindful of.

Inklings said...

Yes, there is a difference between controlling moods that come from habit and bad choices, and chemically imbalanced moods that need a doctor's help. But uncontrolled bad moods certainly will lead to loneliness.

Delirious said...

But OCD writer, I do think we can control our moods if they are not, as Inklings said, some sort of chemical imbalance. When I say "control", I mean that we don't have to take it out on the rest of the world. We may feel down, but we don't have to tell everyone, and we don't have to treat them badly. There is also the "as if" principle that I was taught in college. If someone is down, and acts "as if" they weren't, often this helps them to overcome the bad mood. Dwelling on it, and making everyone else miserable just because we are, doesn't help us overcome bad moods.