Repressed Anger Versus Respect And Love

I recently wrote a small article about The White House Correspondent's Association dinner held in Washington in May, I believe. It is an annual function where the president, a bunch of celebrities and journalists all hang out together looking smart and being funny. It started in 1920, and was initially a men-only thing until one sassy journalist by the name of Helen Thomas pushed John F. Kennedy to boycott the dinner unless women were allowed.

Good on you, Ms. Thomas. And J.F.K.

Jay Leno and President Obama entertained the crowd, sniping at themselves and each other with much good will. I think Obama would have made a great stand-up comedian. He is naturally funny, his wit is incisive, he is pretty well-informed (go figure), is as smart as a tack, and of course he has that wonderful light-up-the-world smile.

Watching him talk about anything makes me feel good. Yip, that's right, I have a crush on the man. Move over Robert de Niro, George Clooney, Matt Damon...

It was a relief to read and write about people who are not angry and helplessly trapped in their rage. The world seems so full of them. Personally I have nothing against anger, I think it is a very helpful tool, but only if we know what to do with it, how to process it. Bottling it does not make it onto my list of clever things to do with it. Expressing it in private, yes, top of the list. Hurting somebody else with it by dumping on them or making them a scapegoat? Last on the list, of intelligent and effective things to do.

The thing is, underneath anger, I reckon there is a whole lot of fear. If only people would realize that and reach out for love and understanding instead of weapons and destructive laws. When you have enough love for yourself you do not want or need to hurt anybody. Personally, I believe President Obama is one of those people who have enough love. I think it reflects in everything he does.

Ah well. Perhaps we are moving towards that goal. Perhaps the world is not getting worse, it is just that we are all becoming more truthful and seeing the reality of how bad it has always been. The truth is hard to face, but as that clever fellow Einstein once said, once you accept your limits you can go beyond them. If it is true for one, it is probably true for everyone. But whatever phase we are in it is still a relief to watch people having a good time.

Jennifer Stewart experienced bankruptcy six years ago which changed her life dramatically - for the better! To read about her experiences and her journey of Stepping out of History, Visit its-not-about-the-money