“Check your egos at the door.” — Quincy Jones
I want to let y’all in on a secret. You ready?
Come closer.
Closer…
Lean in…I want to whisper this to you.
Ready?
Anger isn’t a bad thing.
I’m serious, y’all. Anger isn’t a bad thing.
Oh, we’ve been taught over the years that we shouldn’t get angry. We shouldn’t let our lesser demons outkick out better angels.
Soul anger is healthy. It’s natural. And it’s real.
Ego anger leads to being mean. And that’s when anger gets you in trouble.
I was young — maybe 20 or 21. My sister had to take her car in for service and I was asked to drive her back home.
She dropped off her car and got in my truck. I turned the key…nothing but clicks.
I turned the key again…clicks.
My blood was boiling, and I completely raged out. I mean, I’m pissed at the world. I wanted to kill things.
And I scared the hell out of Ivy.
That was ego anger 101. I felt victimized. My truck’s dead battery personally offended me.
And that ego anger made me mean. And it made me not fun to be around.
It’s not difficult to watch the news and get your ego good and pissed off.
What politician has said what stupid thing?
How many people are dying of Covid-19?
How many new cases are popping up everywhere because people WON’T WEAR A F****** MASK!!!?
I MEAN, HOW CAN PEOPLE BE SO F****** SELFISH? IT’S JUST A PIECE OF CLOTH! GROW UP YOU SELFISH-ASS CLOWN!!!
See what I mean…?
Soul Anger is different.
My definition of soul anger is the type of anger that motivates you to make a difference in the world.
Let’s use my example of the news.
Keith Olbermann has shifted back into doing political commentary. And most of his YouTube content since he’s been back has been railing about a certain politician who has been in the news…y’know…a lot.
And to be clear, I’m a Keith Olbermann fan. I’m a fan of his sports and political work. I’m a fan of HIS.
But the anger he brings to his YouTube show is all ego…or is it?
He left ESPN so that he can lend his voice to the 2020 Presidential Election. He’s using his voice to make a difference.
He’s making a difference. Seems like soul anger to me.
I’ve felt like a victim of life for pretty much my entire run of this skin suit. My soul has been here before, but this skin suit has been here for 43.5 years.
I’ve spent most of this time being angry and victimized by life.
Didn’t get the girl? Victim!
Get evicted? Victim!
Get fired after a month from my dream job? Victim!
This list could go on into infinity.
My point is this: It’s time to use my anger to make a difference in the world.
This is why I’m choosing to write a memoir. To take all the life lessons and all the things that have made me angry and make a difference in the world.
What little I’ve written so far has terrified my own ego to no end. I have a very strong ego.
But I think it’s about time to check my own ego at the door and make a real difference.
But not before I complain one more time about giving up almost 700 yards of offense against OLE FREAKING MISS! COME ON, MAN! GET OFF THE FIELD ON 3RD DOWN! 3RD AND 7 SHOULD NOT TURN INTO A 40 YARD GAIN!!! YOU LOUSY BUMS!!!
See what I mean about Ego vs. Soul anger?
