Meltdown Lessons

Sometimes this world is NOT fair.

The reason why I make that statement isn’t as important as my unflattering meltdown that ensued. Anger, sadness, and disappointment accompanied with tears and verbal-venom spouted out of my mouth. I raved on and on—bombarded by deep emotion and even deeper questions. Believe me, it wasn’t a pretty sight. 

The image of a two-year-old in the middle of a temper tantrum isn’t far from my pitiful reaction, only the adult version. Now before you think, I’m spoiled rotten and get everything I want, that’s nowhere near the truth. I just had my fill of unfair situations and all that ick exploded from within. I, too, was shocked at my reaction and all the drama.

So why am I telling you about it? 

Because the longer I live, the more I realize we have more in common than we believe and maybe you too have been shocked by your reaction to a situation or a problem. And if you’ve never felt like the adult version of a gasket-blowing toddler, I’m jealous. 

I’m convinced my DNA includes a specific gene that demands organic, genuine interaction between my feelings, thoughts, and response. So it’s super hard for me to fake happy when sad, or calm when mad. Oh, believe me, sometimes life demands I veil those raw emotions and I do give it my best effort. 

But here’s the takeaway—I don’t regret that embarrassing hour. 

Yes, it was raw and painful. No, it didn’t fix or change anything even though it was honest and overdue. 

Being an adult requires we do lots of things we’d rather not do, deal with stuff we wish didn’t exist, and be full aware that life is about change and it’s not all good. And the world is NOT fair. 

Sometimes we need to call a spade, a spade and acknowledge the obvious. 

Maybe we can accomplish that with a whisper or maybe we express it during a meltdown. How we do it is not what matters. As long as we don't hurt someone else while raging and in the privacy of our own home.

Being real is what matters.

Letting go of decorum can be liberating and wash the soul of pent up frustration and unrealistic expectations. 

Adulting is hard. Dealing with life is complicated. Once in a while it’s beneficial to be real, shed a few tears, and spout some venom. Not at another person, but to this unfair world. 

It probably won’t change anything, but it may free space in your cluttered, over-burdened soul. And maybe that is what you need to restore your smile and find hope once again.

What about you? 

Tell me I’m not alone. Have you ever shaken your fist at life and been completely real? Did you glean a lesson along the way? Please join the conversation and share a comment. 

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