Apex predator? Begone.
Historically, I was Ms. Sarcasm during my teens and twenties, seriously approaching apex predator status. Hanging my head in sheer embarrassment, recalling how my sarcasm, likely, hurt people. I was funny, cutting (oh, so cutting), and chock full of puns. A reliable attention-getter for the young me who just craved attention.
Sigh.
How did yours truly’s, Ms. Sarcasm, find herself exiting apex predator territory into, of all places, pollyanna-land?
Well, it did help to grow up….oh, and excavate some rock solid values…..but my body (particularly my painful and persnickety left hip) betrays me, occasionally, and opens the cave to my napping apex predator. My very own apex predator peers out of the cave, slowly looking ‘round….maybe a passerby to munch on?
Painful to watch a putative, peaceful Quaker (me) explode into an apex threat. I hadn’t (yet) bitten someone’s head off, but my temper’s much-shortened fuse needed only a spark to let ‘er fly. Someone looking at me the wrong way? Whatever….
Oh, yay, universe! Up popped a simple passport for rediscovering my sanity. Said passport arrived in the form of my favorite unhealthy, but oh-so, happy-making, beverage, Diet Dr. Pepper. Jeez, the joys of being human and accepting certain frailties. (One of mine is Diet Dr Pepper. I won’t list the others!)
There was a knock on my front door. I barely tamped down my apex predator energy (who’s bothering me?!) as I limped to answer. It was a neighbor and good friend. He was gently waving a 6-pack of Diet Dr. Pepper, explaining it had chased him down several aisles at the grocery store, plaintively calling my name. Responding as the good and caring man he is, my friend took custody of the bawling 6-pack and lovingly carried it to my front steps.
My cranky apex predator suddenly realized I felt seen, a life-long sore spot for me. Ms. Predator slunk back into her cave. My head was happily, poking up among the clouds, in Pollyanna territory, while joyfully swigging Diet Dr. Pepper. Just needed to feel seen….as do most of us.