This may come as a shock to you, Dear Reader, but I must confess that I am generally a grumpy, critical, at times even cynical person. Most often I am able to stifle and stuff this tendency down when in public, even during times of trouble and stress (e.g. holidays, keeping on top of bills, death in the family). I’ve become a professional at saving my criticisms and general saltiness for very serious and deserving offenses such as being unable to find socks or underwear in the morning, or being stuck behind a slow driver on 695. Be it as it may, my wife and son are typically the only people privileged enough to observe the song and dance of my inner-curmudgeon. On rare occassions of extreme and prolonged duress, I will also extend such an invitation to my less-immediate family. After all, it was they from whom I learned to sing and dance in such a manner, so why not return the favor now and then?
Last week I had the privilege of speaking to a wise and perceptive individual who shared with me an acute insight into my grandfather’s personality. He commented on the observation that many people become increasingly harsh and unyielding in their dealing with other humans as they age. “But not Harold,” he said. “Harold always had something encouraging to say, regardless.”
His words hit me like a ton of the proverbial bricks. How have I, in my relative-youth (by comparison to Grandpa who died 50 years my senior), become a sour ‘old man’? More importantly, how do I undo what’s been jaded? I don’t want my family to be forced to walk carefully around the fragile-eggshells of my poor attitude and loose tongue. I find myself empathizing with Elisha when pleading for a ‘double-helping’ of the spirit of his mentor. Can I get a dose or two of whatever Harold had? Can I ever be half the man that he was? A quarter, even? I want to mark this moment in my life as the time I gave up grouchiness and dove fully into the Ocean of Joyfulness and Tolerance!
Oh my, now you’re just getting a little too excited, Josh. Why don’t you grow up?
One Comment
Well if you give that up I guess i should give up being negative and I would settle for half of what Grandpa had.
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