Digging in the dirt

What do you do with your anger?  Do you stuff it?  Do you explode all over the guy driving the car next to you?  Do you simmer quietly thinking no one can tell?  A lot of people are starting to talk about the need to express your anger and not stuff it.  But how do you do that without imposing that anger on other people?

Last week, my son got really angry at this toy he was playing with. He threw the toy down and crushed the ball that went with it.  You could see the anger boiling up within him as he stood motionless on the front step, not knowing what to do with the anger he was experiencing.  I told him that he could let the Earth help hold that emotion for him, and he just kind of growled at me.  Then he ran off around the side of the house.  Fifteen minutes later, he came back, smiling and happy with his hands covered in dirt.  He had been furiously pulling weeds on the side of the house and his anger had completely dissipated.  It was very cool to see him handle it that way.

The next time you are feeling overwhelmed with anger, try digging in the dirt.  You could pull weeds, care for a garden, or just dig in the dirt for no other reason than to do it.  Let me know how it works for you.