There is a recognized "thing" called "Grumpy Old Man Complex." Sometimes this is called "Irritable Male Syndrome," or "Grouchy Old Man Syndrome."
If you click that "Grumpy Old Man Complex" link, you will see a picture of our current president. Our president is looking very grumpy, indeed, in that picture, but you have seen lots of very similar pictures before. That picture of President Trump is not an outlier. Let's admit it, he's grumpy practically all the time! Could that be the explanation of what our post-November 2016 agony is all about? Is it just the "Grumpy Old Man Complex?"
Maybe. According to the article, the complex, or syndrome, seems to be related to declining testosterone levels.
I have another thought about the observed tendency of both men and women to succumb to the "grumpy," "grouchy," or "irritable" complex or syndrome as they go from "older" to "old." As you can tell, my experience convinces me that the same syndrome can be present in both men and women. (True, it is mostly about men).
If you click that "Grumpy Old Man Complex" link, you will see a picture of our current president. Our president is looking very grumpy, indeed, in that picture, but you have seen lots of very similar pictures before. That picture of President Trump is not an outlier. Let's admit it, he's grumpy practically all the time! Could that be the explanation of what our post-November 2016 agony is all about? Is it just the "Grumpy Old Man Complex?"
Maybe. According to the article, the complex, or syndrome, seems to be related to declining testosterone levels.
I have another thought about the observed tendency of both men and women to succumb to the "grumpy," "grouchy," or "irritable" complex or syndrome as they go from "older" to "old." As you can tell, my experience convinces me that the same syndrome can be present in both men and women. (True, it is mostly about men).
In my opinion, when you go from "older" to "old" (and there is no specific age that this happens), you begin really to understand the nature of death.
It's real. It's coming for you. You're not going to escape.
I am sharing some personal insights here!
At any rate, I think a person has two basic options when that realization hits. One option is to become even grumpier and grouchier than you normally are. This reaction tends to be related to thoughts about what you have not accomplished, the things you have not done, the loves you've lost, the aches and pains that are now ever more apparent, the fact that you are going blind and deaf, and similar inconveniences.
These reactions are understandable, and are basically related to the fact that life hasn't been quite the way you wanted it to be (and is less so every minute). These thoughts and realizations may not even be conscious, but the fact that death will soon appear can stimulate "grouchiness" - and that word is probably an understatement!
There is an option two! At the very instant that we begin to realize how we may have been shortchanged by life, we could try to turn our attention away from thoughts about all those things we didn't accomplish, and didn't get, or had received and then lost (including good vision and hearing). We could pay attention to what we DID get, and how wonderful it has been, and still is, to be alive.
Take a walk (even with a walker). Kiss a grand-kid (or a person you always wanted to kiss and never did). Watch the waves. Feed the birds. Remember it all.
Sweeten up!
It's real. It's coming for you. You're not going to escape.
I am sharing some personal insights here!
At any rate, I think a person has two basic options when that realization hits. One option is to become even grumpier and grouchier than you normally are. This reaction tends to be related to thoughts about what you have not accomplished, the things you have not done, the loves you've lost, the aches and pains that are now ever more apparent, the fact that you are going blind and deaf, and similar inconveniences.
These reactions are understandable, and are basically related to the fact that life hasn't been quite the way you wanted it to be (and is less so every minute). These thoughts and realizations may not even be conscious, but the fact that death will soon appear can stimulate "grouchiness" - and that word is probably an understatement!
There is an option two! At the very instant that we begin to realize how we may have been shortchanged by life, we could try to turn our attention away from thoughts about all those things we didn't accomplish, and didn't get, or had received and then lost (including good vision and hearing). We could pay attention to what we DID get, and how wonderful it has been, and still is, to be alive.
Take a walk (even with a walker). Kiss a grand-kid (or a person you always wanted to kiss and never did). Watch the waves. Feed the birds. Remember it all.
Sweeten up!
Image Credit:
http://www.elindependiente.com.ar/pagina.php?id=131117
No. My grumpiness comes from the realization that the majority of people in this world are stupid, ignorant, uneducated, unaware, uncaring or believe in a god or gods. (Or any combination of the above.)
ReplyDeleteI used to profess anarchism as a system of social organization, but now I know that's impossible in the absence of an intelligent and educated populace. Citizens now are distracted and miseducated, misinformed and entertained to distraction.
Can't build a democracy without good lumber.
My own thought is almost the opposite. Not necessarily denying the accuracy of your observations, my idea is that we would do better by not allowing the deficiencies we confront to make us grumpy. Let's see what we can build with the lumber at hand! Some pretty amazing things, I think.
Delete