Edward Hays ~ Author, Artist & Storyteller
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Temporary Insanity

5/21/2014

 

Temporary Insanity


Dear old and new friends,

    Irritating frustration is common whenever our computers fail, rush hour traffic comes to a standstill or a neighbor mows his lawn at dawn on Sunday, only to mention three of untold annoyances that can cause angry outbursts. Even when we are innocent, we easily become targets of another’s anger; an irate fellow motorist, an impatient spouse or a grouchy boss. A good way to respond to other’s sudden angry explosion is to judge the outraged person as “being temporarily insane.” So thought the old Roman poet Horace who said, “Anger is a short madness.”

    Brief bouts of madness are most often caused by any perceived attack on “the self” or something directly connected to the self. Consider the instance of a driver who fantasizes the highway is his own private byway. He races up behind you in traffic and shouts, “You f#*x#*g old white headed slowpoke.” Honk…honk…honk. “Get out of my way!” Instead of recycling anger with anger, use the legally excusing factor of our justice system and judge him as suffering from temporary insanity, and serenely continue on your way.

    If, however, it is you who suffer from frequent brief bouts of anger, consider praying for help to the patron saint of lunatics and madmen, the Irish Saint Fillan. This eighth-century Irish hermit’s hermitage was in Scotland, and he was legendary for his calming influence on those considered mad. Centuries after his death people thought to be crazy were plunged into the icy cold water of Strathfillan, a deep pool near his old hermitage. Dripping wet, chilled to the bone, they were then tied up tightly with ropes and left overnight in the saint’s tiny old chapel. If in the morning their ropes were found untied they were considered to be cured.

    If you wish to be freed of your brief attacks of madness you don’t have to go on a pilgrimage to Strathfillan. Instead develop a peaceful lifestyle of slowly eliminating being disturbed by mistakes, both yours and others. Also cultivate an acceptance of life’s irritating irregularities as being an unavoidable aspect of human nature.

    If in spite of all your efforts, you experience an uncontrollable attack of anger, take a contemporary cure of good Saint Fillan—a cold shower! Or cool down by briefly breathing deeply. Usually you’ll find you’ve been touched by an Irish miracle as your brief madness evaporates into thin air.
Linda Laws
5/21/2014 09:33:24 am

Hi Ed! My old PC died almost a year ago ~ your blog was on my home page on that computer. Since then I had forgotten about it until just the other day. And today I remembered to Google you (hahaha)..and there you were...the Haystack Blog. I will write soon. I know you don't email. But I wanted to send you a little etheric kiss and let you know I really enjoyed reading your last couple blogs. I'm not doing great with my writing, but I have started oil painting classes and they are the highlight of my week! love, Linda

Dan Sanley
5/26/2014 07:50:52 am

Dear Friend Ed,

Your advice is once again wise and of great value, especially “acceptance of life’s irritating irregularities as being an unavoidable aspect of human nature.”

However there seems to be an overabundance of anger and rage in this country right now; certainly more than I can ever remember. A cold shower might be a temporary solution, but beyond that and being more accepting of human nature what is a possible longer term fix? We can only speculate on possible specifics for the cause. In a more generalized examination we know that anger occurs when our level of expectation exceeds our ability to control. Therefore we either lower our expectations, or realize that we really are not in control of most things. If we don’t take steps to first look at ourselves and to modify our own behavior, then when the unpredictable and uncontrollable happens it is others that become our targets. Another alternative we have available is having a plan as to how we deal with the uncontrollable. We may not be able to control an event, but we can choose how we deal with it. Based on the degree of responsibility we place on ourselves will determine how much less we are easily angered, thereby keeping at least this type of temporary madness to a minimum.

Thanks again - Dan

Jane Mahoney
5/28/2014 02:56:34 pm

Been how many years ? - just passed on many of your books to the staff of St Anne's Grade School in Prairie Village, KS. Came across a picture you gave me 34+ years ago of you in Easton, KS. You look better without the suit and tie. HA !

Judy Dinges
6/3/2014 03:36:34 am

I love the idea of being touched by an Irish miracle. I love reading your blogs!!


Comments are closed.


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