I have had what can only be described as a crappy attitude at the start of my day. Suffice it to say, I have a bunch of annoying happenstances swirling around me and my reaction to them has been less than uplifting. In a nutshell, I am pretty pissed off at just about everything and every one today.
When I arrived at the Center this morning my supervisor started to say something to me and then stopped herself mid sentence to ask"are you okay?"
I smiled and assured her that I was fine ,cautioning that I was in a terribly foul mood.
Since then, I have paid particular attention to what I say and how I say it.
I refuse to just slap on a smile and pretend that my dower mood does not exist. However, there is no reason for me to be nasty or mean or hurtful to others that may have to deal with me today.
As a matter of fact, in part due to a conversation with my Rabbi (yes my real Rabbi not one in the sense of a confidante or an adviser who I refer to as my rabbi), I have chosen to actively address the swirl of chaos that I find myself enveloped in.
It is a very energetic and positive resolution to what began as a very distasteful and deflating set of circumstances.
By the end of the day, I am sure I will have offended some people.
By the end of the day some people may choose to not be happy with me or even like me very much.
That will of course be their choice.
From where I stand, by the end of the day, I will have moved on from the nonsense that launched this tirade and found my way to a very peaceful and productive resolution to all of it.
In the movie A Bronx Tale, the question is posed"is it better to be loved or feared?".
I believe that there is a third and much more important choice and that is to be respected. 
I strive to treat people with respect and all that I ask in return is that you treat me the same way.
Deal?
Good!