ANGRY OLD MAN CHEWED ME OUT

An angry old man is a dangerous man . . . to himself.

Wind some guy up and they’ll do things they don’t ordinarily do.

Why?

Because they’re mad, they’re not happy, they are fuming.

Most of the time they get over it unless someone lights their fuse.

In a normal world an angry old man spewing their special venom would do it from their garage and the only people to hear it are people who know them well enough to ignore their bad mood.

Or some passers by who tune in, get turned on, and drop into the same bad mood.

In a normal world such an angry man would make amends for being out of control. Maybe apologize for making a scene about something so seemingly insignificant.

It’s a different world when the angry old man is also the most sensitive person, the sort who takes huge umbrage when their own verbal barrage is turned back on them.

Have you ever been chewed out and not deserved it?

“Every damn time,” is not the answer.

If you’ve never been chewed out and you’re past twenty, you need to be careful not to overreact when it happens, and it will happen.

Never been chewed out and you’re past forty? Haven’t you done anything worth a good chewing out?

Past sixty and never been chewed out? Come on.

But, if that’s the case, you may respond to a good chewing out with a complete meltdown you’ll never recover from.

You may have to quit your job, sell your house, and move away.

 

Chewed Out But Good

I’ve been chewed out good from coaches, teachers, parents, brothers, friends, wife, kids.

A regular whipping post? No, but none of them got to the point of me reacting out of character with my own special emotional rage.

If I’m in trouble, and getting told all about it, I’m not making a bad situation worse by blowing up.

At the same time, and this is important, I do listen for what I did wrong and how I’m going to correct myself.

Some angry old man would have a hard time convincing me to do anything by screaming and blaming and getting too wound up.

It’s possible I’ve aged out of giving a fuck for the theatricals of media, social media, or blogging. What? Blogging?

Not once have I had someone trying to scream a hole in my chest convince me that I’m what’s wrong with the world and I need to do something about it right now.

NOW.

Maybe, like me, you’ve had thoughts about the Jan. 6 insurrection. Or love-fest if that’s what it looked like to you.

I’ve tried to imagine myself in the crowd getting fired up enough to head to the Capitol of the United States like I was on a mission with orders from the highest authority, also known as the President for the United States.

But I’m an old Army guy. I’ve taken orders, been chewed out, and done better.

We from my era don’t lift a finger to do anything unless the orders come down the correct chain of command.

That’s how you avoid looking so shocked at being tried and convicted and sent to jail, which, if you think about it, is the same as quitting your job, selling your house, and moving out of town.

It’s a deluded dude who thinks the president, any president, or any general, is talking directly to them.

You thought they had your back when you saw the green light.

More like a red flag.

 

What To Do After Getting Chewed Out By An Angry Old Man

First, consider what happened, then remember who is giving you a blast.

You screwed up, someone noticed and gave their opinion, and you come away stronger for the exchange.

Stronger. You come away stronger, more able to perform, and determined to get it right.

You’ve done it before, or done something close to it, and with the new tools you collected in review you’ll do it better.

This is where the coaching ethic kicks in.

You need to coach yourself up, do the reps, do the work, and present yourself in the best possible light.

That’s me with my computer on Flex Friday mounting my regular comeback after another thousand words.

Moving from the writing world to the real world takes a moment, but we’re up to it.

We’re up to the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune? Yes, we are; Yes, you are.

Tune into the power of your culture, your history, and use it.

Of course not everyone has had the advantages I’ve found to put my best foot forward.

What’s it feel like to finish a marathon in 3.5 hours? Don’t ask me, I clocked 3:32.

Attending a home birth is one thing; when it’s your wife delivering your kid and the delivery team is late, keep calm and wash up.

Is there any way to reconnect your self-esteem after voting for a campaigner who slurred and slopped their way to the finish line?

There sure is, and it’s on display. It’s been on display for quite some time.

You didn’t say that. Didn’t do that. And if you did, there’s no evidence. If there is evidence, it was planted, it’s a scam, a witch hunt.

All better? Vote accordingly.

See you tomorrow.

Live like you won’t have to quit your job, sell your house, and move away.