Everybody has something that cheers them up.
We all have our preferred methods of releasing steam. I know folks who pull out the gun and go target shooting, others who strike punching bags, some who drink a bucket of booze, and still others who slip on the running shoes and book it like Michael Meyers is at their back.
I write angry haiku. It makes me feel better. If that isn’t enough, I compose nasty limericks. As a last resort I turn Dr. Seuss stories into tales of horror.
To each their own.
Don’t judge.
In the extreme cases when none of those things work, I go somewhere. A change of scene, an alteration to the normally scheduled madness that is modern life, can soothe the disgruntled inner beast. Loud music helps too.
How do you decompress? What helps you kick the grumpies under the bus? Have a solution to share with the crowd? Inquiring minds want to know…
Tags: angry haiku, anger management, Emo, unhealthy obsessions, making sense
Lesann Berry 
#1 by Annalise Green on November 4, 2011 - 8:02 pm
Oooh, I love your method of writing angry haikus! I'm with you on the angry music too. But I think I usually just take a nap. Often I'm out of sorts because I haven't had enough sleep…
#2 by Lesann Berry on November 4, 2011 - 11:03 pm
I agree. Not having enough sleep can put me out of sorts too. Most of the time I can shake off the grumpies, but occasionally it's good to indulge the howlers and give them the attention they want so they go dormant.Talk about mixed metaphors!
#3 by Anonymous on November 5, 2011 - 4:09 am
I was driving home from a swimming session tonight, and felt that delightful high. Why can't I remember exercise will kick in the endorphins and take away the stress? I think with writers we think we can't spare the time. Boxed into a corner with the weight thing, I must do it. No choice. The results make me feel better for a long time following. But I have to argue down the old negative feelings surrounding exercise.
#4 by Marion Spicher on November 5, 2011 - 4:09 am
Sorry, didn't mean to be anonymous … just forgot to type in my name.
#5 by Lesann Berry on November 5, 2011 - 2:51 pm
Hi Marion! That's so true about the things which are good for us and make us feel better are often the things we neglect, put off, or avoid – unintentional self-sabotage.I made myself eat extra veggies and salad this week to combat work stress and it makes a difference. Swimming sounds good too.
#6 by elenaaitken.com on November 6, 2011 - 1:28 am
I love that you write angry poetry. Awesome. I go for a run. A hard, fast run. Usually clears it out for me. Cute pic too.
#7 by Angela Orlowski-Peart on November 6, 2011 - 6:39 am
OMG, this is hilarious. I don't know anyone who writes angry haikus — that's a great way to release stress. If I'm ready to explode I go for a power walk or do sit-ups, jumps etc. It's a great way to calm down and clear my mind 🙂
#8 by Bridgette Booth on November 6, 2011 - 11:11 am
I love that I now know someone who not only writes haikus but *angry* ones at that. That's fantastic. It makes me want to try it too!Hmmm. . . when I get the grumps then I try to get alone and exercise. Or, read. Reading soothes a lot of bad ju-ju. Unless I get my hands on an angry haiku. . . lol.
#9 by Lesann Berry on November 8, 2011 - 3:43 pm
@elena It's probably a whole lot healthier to run but my body would go into shock. lol All you exercisey people are inspiring me to be more mobile.
#10 by Lesann Berry on November 8, 2011 - 3:45 pm
@Angela It's funny that I remember learning to write haiku in elementary school but didn't realize that's what I was doing so many years later. The 5-7-5 pattern just rolls off the tongue nicely. You should try it – although the sit-ups are probably pretty effective too. It's hard to be cranky when you're gasping for air!
#11 by Lesann Berry on November 8, 2011 - 3:47 pm
@Bridgette You so have to try it! They're hilarious because really, they're just silly. No matter how angry I am, the process of trying to put it into the 5-7-5 formula cheers me up.Everybody's method for getting up and moving is really effective cause it gets those endorphins churning – but the angry haiku is pretty fun.