What does it matter!

No I'm not asking the question "What does it matter?" as the title of today's post. It's my explanation- "What does it matter!".  Let me back track. It's been a rather nutty morning juggling between being home alone for a couple of days, cat and house sitting, working as a stringer for the local newspaper and trying to finish things up at school. So with all of this I was arriving at school around 9 a.m., an hour later than I wanted but I had everything else off of my list so it has been a productive morning so far (I probably just jinxed that!). Anyway as I made my way down the hallway, I was greeted by a coworker who I see on occasion. I made the mistake on commenting on how nice the hallway floors looked and I was met by 2 minutes of complaining, swearing, more complaining and more swearing about one of their coworkers, all while trying to get my door unlocked and escape the negative tirade! The guy just needed someone to vent to,  (I understand that and we all need an ear at times to vent, bitch and get it out. I do a lot!) I listened and when he finally took a breath, I briefly said that I was sorry his day and situation with the coworker was not going well. That I hoped it got better and again told him how nice the school was looking for all his hard work. I think I caught him off guard with my reply and he mumbled a "thank you" and went on his way. He just needed someone to vent to, however briefly it was. And I was not jumping on his bitching party bus but rather express my feelings that things were going that way BUT I appreciated and NOTICED what he was doing and how nice it looked. The end! Move on!
I got busy on work in my office and work area and I'd forgotten the conversation and the anger and frustration with the individual, it was typical behavior, unfortunately. We all have our triggers and moments.
It wasn't until I was killing some time sorting and going through some things while waiting for computer  software to finish downloading when I ran across a card from one of my high school dance team girls thanking me for listing and supporting her while she and her younger sister were having issues. And my earlier school greeting of frustration by that coworker came back to me. What does it matter!
I'm sure for the young lady who wrote me the card of thanks several months ago the problems have been resolved, dealt with and forgotten. I'd like to think she learned some life lessons from the experience but right now I know of doubt it. At the time it mattered a great deal to her. And it should have, no one wants or should be bullied. And I'm sure the tirade and venting that I was treated to this morning is long forgotten and I'm betting the individual was probably disappointed by my reaction and lack of band wagon jumping on! But he just needed to uncork his frustrations with a situation and move on....I hope!
We all have our "moments" where we let something that on most days don't even cause us to have a second thought hit us wrong at times. This is normal and this is part of being human. Even the most passive people have a nerve hit at times. And later,  I'd like to think, most of us look back and think "what was that?" or  Why did I let "that" bother and get to me? Hard to say!
But you know what? Life goes on. For some they stew and brew on something that may seem trivial to others but is a major source of irritation and unhappiness for them. Others just deal and move on. And there are those brave few who deal with the source of their unhappiness and frustration-good for them, IF they do it in a non-relationship harming way. Be brave-I am not!
I'm typically a keep my mouth shut and keep moving kind of person. I KNOW I'd feel better if I addressed the source of my frustrations and let it out. I have a heavy duty filter, unlike others who speak then think. But wisdom and experience has taught me to keep my mouth shut, move on and let it go, for the time being and deal with it myself. And there are those very rare times when I have stood up for myself and told someone how I felt. I just did that recently and I stood and still stand alone- without any friend support. I have no support from those around me, but they had not walked in my shoes, they have no idea what I was dealing with. It's a lonely walk and I've dealt with a variety of feelings but the fact that I'm not being walked on and treated as unimportant has made it worth the pain. I walked away from something I was passionate about and worked hard to make successful despite a "friend" who left me out of the loop and often times I was the last to know or be informed. That's not fun. That's not how you work with others-especially when you are working on the same project and cause. We're on the same team here! I'm not sure why some people feel the need to walk all over others. Is it an ego thing? A control factor for them? Or are they so self absorbed that they think only THEY can do it right. Of course people aren't going to do it the way you think they should. But they also aren't going to even attempt to do it the way you think it should be done if you don't tell them everything that it involves-share the information and edcation. I always silently cheer inside when someone goes above and beyond and does a better job, or does things a better way than anyone else thought of. Way to go!
So if you are bothered by something or someone today ask yourself my favorite four questions of: Will it matter in day? Will it matter in a week? Will it matter in a month? Or will it matter in a year? IF it does still bother you in a day, week, month or year, then it is important to you. Deal with it, come to terms and move on. Life is too short.

Positive thought of the day: Life is quiet and uneventful, which is a good thing to have!