Grump

To my son Tommy,

There are plenty of expressions for when someone is in a bad mood.  Some use the basic grumpy for a description while others will say you woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  My personal favorite is "Who pissed in your cheerios?".  Most expressions imply that it is some event or someone else's fault for your grumpiness.  It usually isn't and being grumpy is a choice.  I seem to have chosen to be grumpy today.

I am trying to protect everyone from me today.  I have closed the door and give every indication, both subtle and not so subtle, that any exchange with me today might not be the best experience in the world.  The little things that I usually let fly (or let flow or let go or however you say not let them bother) are annoying me like a papercut with lemon juice.  No matter how true or untrue it is, pretty much everyone I deal with today is going to be stupid.  I don't want to pass on this infectious negativity so I am secluding myself until I can get over the hump of the grump.  Today it might mean I actually get some work done.

I am here to tell you that it is okay to have days like this,  as long as you recognize that you are the real cause and you made the choice and you are your own solution when you decide to change.  If you are hell bent on blaming others and actually believe they are the cause for your miserable mood, you have given too much power away.  There are tough events in this struggle that we call life, events that cause all kinds of emotions, but only you have the power to let those emotions exist and how they spread.

Today is not one of those days where life is tough in all actuality.  I have nothing to point to and say "Right there...that is why!"  Just a funk.  So I leave you with lyrics that I heard on one of your old favorite shows called Jack's Big Music Show.

If you want to be a grump that's okay
But could you be a grumpy kinda further away
It's not that I don't love ya 'cause you know I do
Sometimes I'm grumpy too

If you want to be a nudje that's ok
But could you be nudjey kinda further away
It's not that I don't love ya 'cause you know I do
Sometimes I'm nudjey too

I think I understand
Exactly what it is you're going through
Oh when your oatmeal's lumpy and your socks are all bumpy
What's a poor kid to do? 

If you want to be a grump that's okay
But could you be a grumpy kinda further away
It's not that I don't love ya 'cause you know I do
Sometimes I'm grumpy too

Sincerely with love from your grumpy dad,
Leo