Anchors Away — Letting Go of Anger

“Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned.”

— Buddha

Mothers can say the meanest things.

Years ago, my mom and I were chatting on the phone. We made it through the first five minutes of me telling her about my life and then fifty-five minutes of her telling me, in graphic detail, about hers — and everyone else’s she happened to cross paths with over the previous days.

Then we got on to current events, which I admit keeping up with is not always on the top of my priority list. She asked me a question about a recent event mentioned in the news.

I wracked my brain, trying to recall if I’d heard anything it. I drew a blank.

“No,” I said.

“Oh for God’s Sakes,” she snapped. “You’re an embarrassment to the family!”

Ouch.

Now, I know my mother didn’t literally mean this. Rather, she was just telling me, in her own odd way, that I should keep more up-to-date on world affairs.

As such, I could justify her comment by explaining that, despite the nasty remark, my mom is actually a loving…