Biting your tongue hurts

It's good to have manners. It's important to be polite. It's our moral obligation to abide by certain rules that, moreover, are typically known as common sense. If you don't understand what I mean, then stop reading this and go back to the forests of central Africa, ya gorilla.

Another thing, It's not okay to spook people by throwing a fit when ever something doesn't go your way. It's rude to make those around you feel awkward, so don't do it. If you have a chemical imbalance that renders you helpless to such antics, medication exists. Use it.

Also, there are things that I refrain from doing that keep anyone from thinking I'm just plain disgusting. For instance, I will never drop my pants and squat while someone is in the middle of talking to me, then piss all over their shoes. I'm sure there are people who would, and, rest assured those individuals will never be allowed in my home. Not even if they're wearing a brand spanking new adult diaper.

What am I getting at, you ask?

Aside from the obvious, there are times when you need to speak up or take action. Don't wait for someone else to do it. Sure it's scary, but it's also noble and incredibly healthy.

I'm not going to bombard you with statistics-this time, but I really think that if I wasn't so concerned about rocking the boat most of my life, I wouldn't have to be popping Zoloft nightly to keep the anxiety away.

I always avoided upsetting anyone. I saw and heard things around me and I held it in. If I felt anger creeping, I sucked it up. I battled tears from flooding my eyes and held them at bay, and now it's caught up to me.

I think that holding back is what gets people the sickest. It can range anywhere from a mild flu to deadly cancer and everything in between.

I don't necessarily mean that now that I hold this holy nugget of wisdom, that I'm going to start whining about every little thing, nor will I go around throwing a drink in anyone's face who annoys me (Though, that would be fun, I must admit.) I'm simply suggesting that I'll do my best not to deny my inner impulses to JUST SAY NO to the wrongs of the world. It's liberating.

You can start out by saying, " I think..." or make the leap to rescue a fellow human from a sticky situation.

My friend Eddie is, by no means, the type of guy that you'd ever see fighting. He'll avoid it if he can. But that didn't stop him from bravely running into a crowd of seven vicious bullies who were punching, stomping and stabbing at his friend. Eddie undoubtedly saved his friend's life by taking the brunt of some of those beatings. He still has a long scar on his arm today from that night. Had he chosen to not help because he was afraid, things would be very different today. He is one person, and he made a huge difference.

Let's look at The Occupy Wall Street protesters. You can vary in opinions about them, but rather than sit at home and complain about the distribution of wealth in this country that are leaving many people hungry and without homes, they're doing something about it. They're not holding it in.

Even if you don't think that what's going through your head is a popular idea. Even if you think you may be ridiculed. Even if it means that your partner starts giving you the hairy eye ball and makes you sleep on the floor or your mom decides to burn your Christmas stocking right in front of you. No matter what the outcome, you owe it to yourself to try.

It's important to be able to face yourself in the mirror without flinching. Life goes by fast. Take your chances. A good friend reminded me of an old saying that fits what I'm talking about, "if you don't stand for something, then you'll fall for anything."

Now if you'll excuse me, I must quit while I'm ahead. My dog is yelling at me to take her out. I could get mad at her or ignore her, but what for? She's right. Even she gets to speak up.

And please, don't start hunting someone down with a torch or think that I'm telling you that it's okay to shoot your mother-in-law in the leg. (Disclaimers suck, but they're necessary.)