Knowing When To Let It Go
 

There's an old story about a cat who sat at the edge of the railroad track and when a train wheel ran over his tail, severing it, leaped to attack and was crushed by the next wheel.
The moral of the story being: Don't lose your head over a piece of tail.
I know the story refers to a situation with a young man and his first relationship, but there seems to be a parallel with the behavior of some when they find themselves in conflict with others.
Here for example we are on an internet site discussing things with people, most of whom we are unlikely to ever meet. Yet some members will become so invested in their point of view (if they indeed have one) it is not unusual for the thread to devolve into name calling.
Sometimes I actually feel sorry for individuals who can carry the burden of so much bitterness.
Surely that can't be healthy.

So: how do you handle it? Can you put it aside or does it worry your soul like a dog with a bone?
In my younger years, I used to hold onto things that had no great consequence in the long run.
As my father used to say,"In 50 years neither you nor I will care about this. "
Life is too short.

Best
Les

+ 1 Well said

I tend not too worry about things I cannot change or influence.
Those things include government, world affairs, natural events, the economy, and so on.
Pretty much everything that gets discussed on these forums. In short, I am just here for the entertainment value.

:D You got me. I do have a cardigan. It was my father's.
However I never wear it as it is much too large. I guess I keep it up in the closet for sentimental reasons.

I didn't know you could even spell curmudgeon! Well done!

Best
Les

Going through the grocery line at Kroger, the cashier thanked us (my wife, and I) for being so nice, and respectful. I said "what, no need to thank us" !

She replied that a majority of customers that day (Sunday afternoon) were rude, and cranky, and in foul moods. I that her that I couldn't believe that people walk around with chips on their shoulders daring someone to bump them, and generally being azzholes....sorry state of affairs we are in.

My father use to tell me that as we get older, we become more mellow. I found, for some people, that's the exact opposite. They get cranked way up with just one sentence and this is over the computer. Like you said, from someone whom they have and will never met. Why? That we will never know. Now I know where cranky old man comes from.

CKelly, I was at Burger King and a white woman - her especially, and her white guy were giving the Indian lady behind the counter hell, and telling her to go back to where you come from etc. Not trying to throw fuel on the fire, but I said to the Indian lady "You guys are most welcome here, thanks for working at BK, and here's $20 to buy a bottle of wine on the way home. Please ignore these white trash people, they'll be on their way home to Wainuiomata soon." Haha, the trash people shut up as they sensed it wasn't a good idea to carry on. The nice Indian lady wouldn't take the $20 and said she is pretty used to it. She just let it go and got on with her day.

I started a response to this and then realized no one is going to care what I think about it, so I let it go.

The Marvelous Mr. Misanthrope will care.

He'll grab your words and beat you soundly about the head and shoulders with his interpretation of 'em.
And when you try and defend yourself, Pow! Here comes the gaslight.

actually I would care

Trying to start an argument Shaun? :)
Actually I started to write something in defense of curmudgeons, but it’s late. Maybe tomorrow.

My Grandma gave me this gift as a young kid. She was a truly great woman.
"Lord grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change. Courage to change the things I can. And the Wisdom to know the difference."

Helps make letting things go a lot easier.

I often write long winded responses to things when I get worked up. Re reading it and re writing 4 or 5 times till im ready to send it. By then I realize its rediculous and doesnt matter so I delete the whole thing and move on. Lately I save the blood pressure just skip the writing part and move on. More people should do this. You have to remember most people that are sitting on their computer late at night are most likely inebriated to some extent

♪♪ Let it go, let it go ♪♪

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Its hard for me to just exit a debate - but the older I get, the easier it is...

As Hate Radio and Hate News will have you believe you are supposed to be angry and p.o.-ed at everybody ALL THE TIME!

guess what? Being nice is free, really, it is, it costs NOTHING to be nice....it works.
The story of the cashier is heart-wrenching what we've come to as a society. This thread should be put over on PARF to get those guys to calm down a bit. Thanks for writing it Les. Good point.

One day... Many moons ago... (about three months ago I guess) I decided to not be grumpy or worry about ANYTHING for the whole day. Sure it's important to worry, but I'll worry tomorrow instead.

It was rather interesting. To borrow a term from the '70s I was giving off good vibes. I had strangers smiling and saying hello. I even had some flirts from females half my age. It was an unusual day.

I'm generally a live and let live/let it go sort of person. But I also have my boundaries where I let rip if they are crossed. But it was an interesting day.

Speak for yourthelf, sir!

I'm with you on this one Les! The name calling and grudge matches seem to have picked up a lot of steam on this forum over the last few years... or maybe I'm just getting old. Either way life is too short.