Tempering Temper

Please forgive the pun.

They say that uncontrolled temper sometimes go with age. The more we mature, the more likely we are able to control our temper. But I noticed, it seems happening to me the other way. And more often, it goes unbridled when I am driving. I curse, and sometimes would go my way to step out of the car (if I have the chance) and lash-out (with bad bad words) on the other driver. It was really bad. Very bad. Words leave wounds that do not heal easily. And if they do heal, they leave ugly emotional scars.

Have you heard about the story of a boy who had a bad temper like me, and his father taught him a very profound lesson how to temper his temper (again, pun intended)? The story goes:

His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he must hammer a nail into the fence.

The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as he learned to control his anger, the number of nails hammered daily, gradually dwindled down. He discovered it was easier to hold his temper than to drive those nails into the fence. Finally the day came when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day that he was able to hold his temper.

The days passed and the young boy was finally able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said "you have done well, my son, but look at the holes in the fence. The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger, they leave a scar just like this one."

You can put a knife in a man and draw it out. It won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry, the wound is still there.

Make sure you control your temper the next time you are tempted to say something you will regret later. (Author Unknown)

In addition, watch what you say when you are in anger or better yet, wait a little longer if you need to say something. And when you are about to say it, focus on the wrong deed/s not on the person and how the incident can be avoided. Temper your temper, bridle your tongue, and you will gain more friends and strengthen your relationships. Namaste!