Why does everyone look so grumpy in the morning? How is anyone expected to have a decent day at work when the first thing we’re faced with in the morning is a crowded mass of grumpyness? The misery that accosts us when taking the subway to work in the morning is depressing enough to drive anyone into the tracks. Are people really that miserable going to work? If so, why aren’t we doing anything about it? How is it that countless people are accepting this miserable excuse of an existence without a fight?
I sit on the subway and I look around.. I try imagine what goes on in people's minds – I think that young guy is daydreaming of his lazy Sunday morning he spent with his kids, and that lady is fantasizing about a romantic vacation with her lover on a white sandy beach, and that college kid in his stuffy new suit is dreaming of backpacking across asia, and this one wishes he could see sunlight more often.. while they all robotically maneover through their morning routine – slide the metrocard, walk to the platform, stare into space, walk onto the subway, hold on to the railing, day dream of REAL life, walk off the subway, mindlessly follow the crowds, walk into the office, smile hello, make coffee… and survive the day on automatic pilot until its time for the same subway routine after work.
Sometimes I just want to get up and yell for everyone to just WAKE UP!
But then I just mind my own business, stick my head back into my book and immerse myself in a written world that promises me depth, drama, and thought provoking endings.
Is it human nature or is it society that’s driven us to living this way? Are we supposed to accept it as inevitable or do we spend our lives fighting it?
I dont know...it’s way too early in the morning to be thinking about all this..
posted by anonym00kie @ 10:13 AM
15 comments
15 Comments:
Occupe-toi de tes affaires!
C'est une blague ou quoi?
They look grumpy cause they're tired.
u rock jeff.
but pls, in yenglish next time
d~
lol you have very funny veiws on different situations. I am guilty of this as well, until I drink my coffee!
I need to work on being more awake in the morning not easy.
Jeff..
mêle toi de tes onions.. et en faite, c'est toi la blague!
nuch a chosid said..
I'm not actually in a good mood in the morning, i'm usually pretty mellow.. but.. i would like it if those around me were smiling :)
yeshivaguy..
you're a wise one..
anonymous..
don't you have a blog to go liven up with BRIGHT FLASHY COLORS?!
chaverah..
mmmmm cofffee..
they should give out free coffee on the subway..
socialworker/frustrated mom..
i dont think you can work on being more awake.. maybe you can work on going to sleep earlier :)
i dont think its a good idea to yell at everyone "wake up"
try approaching one individual every day and connect :)
oh no...not mee
I'm such a morning person..I absoltely relish the crisp pre-dawn sublime time....I get grumpy at night...lol
You know what gets to me more than grumpy people... cheery people.
Were you ever really grumpy in the morning and the cheery person just won't shut it?
one day there was this really cheery guy in the subway; this wave of humanity was flowing all over (as the nyc system is wont to do)..he was typical-looking businessman..but he was beaming- saying hellos and good mornings..sowing happier faces and leaving a lighter sense of psyche in his wake..
How sad that many of us look at people like this as 'weird' (myself not excluded).
Then there are the ones that look so incredibly sad that all you want to do is go and hug them (and this is coming from a non-hugger-if-i-can-help-it). It happened on the bus 2 weeks ago..this woman looked as if her world was caving in..tears in her eyes..not making a scene or anything and I'm thinking: right now i'm in a place where people are not afraid to express emotion..maybe i should go over and..maybe..um.. (but alas-- i was too shy). Then agian, I've been in her shoes a bit..a kind word/human compassion/company/smile (and yes- even a hug:) will go a million miles to making things better..as trivial as you think they are.
skepticbentorah..
and get one smack at a time?
I think i'll just yell as the subway door opens - and run out :)
david_on_the_lake..
david, it makes me really sad to say this, but you leave me no choice - i CANNOT be friends with a morning person.. there's just no way it can ever work!
nemo..
my roomate was one of these morning people - but thankfully she was a good friend and totally knew not to push my buttons.. or even say hello :)
honestly.. i think my next post should be about really cheery morning poeople - what the heck is up with that?!
the truth is i dont like cheery morning poeple - it will ruin my morning.. but, there has to be a happy medium, between happy_cheery_smily_annoying and grumpy_nasty_scowling_miserable..
no?
flör..
i dont know.. in theory it would be nice if poele were friendlier, warmer, hug-ier.. but truthfully.. i dont think i could handle it :)
there's a difference between being grumpy and just being chilled out/pleasant.. no?
who knows, maybe i come across as being nasty and unhappy too.. maybe everyone on the subway is secretely happy
who the heck knows ..
my whole point was just that if they are as unhappy as they come across, they should do something about it. and if they arent unhappy, then why is it so depressing being on the subway seeing all these sour faces..
maybe yeshivaguy is right, and everyone is just.. tired :)
some people (like me) just aren't morning people. it takes a while (until 10.10am at the very least) to feel awake (let alone cheerful) and that usually involves a cup of coffee (and hopefully a leisurely breakfast while reading the paper) and not being hassled or having to battle public transport!
it's not unhappy per se, rather tired and not quite 'awake' yet.
..or [as the Be"sht sagely recounts in the Shvartze Wolf* story..] what we perceive others as..is in reality nothing more than a mirror-image of ourselves..
(Which for some..brings up loads of comments/questions/rebuttals..and others changes their perspective on humanity a bit (didn't they do a study on the effects of cheerful demeanor in sales/marketing/floor personnel and how many more sales they brought in vs. the grumpy ones..but that's a given I guess..though concrete[r] proof that it does indeed work!)
Many years ago, after the rabbi of Tchentzikov had been married for eighteen years without having been blessed with children, he travelled to the Kozhnitzer Maggid to obtain the tzadik's blessing.
When the Kozhnitzer listened to the man's request he uttered a sigh from deep within his being. "The gates of heaven are closed to your petition!" he cried.
"No, no! Please, you must help me!" the man wept desperately.
"I cannot help you," said the Kozhnitzer. "But I will send you to someone else who will be able to help. You must go to a certain person who is called 'Shvartze Wolf -- Black Wolf,' and he will be the one to help."
"Yes, I know him," the rabbi said, "He lives in my village, and a more coarse, miserable person you could never find."
At first the Kozhnitzer did not respond. The rabbi realized that if the Kozhnitzer was sending him to Black Wolf, he must have a good reason.
The Kozhnitzer then quietly revealed, "Black Wolf is head of the eighteen hidden saints whose merits sustain the world."
The rabbi sought out Black Wolf in the forest hut which was his home. Though cognizant of Black Wolf's true identity, the rabbi was still frightened to approach him.
He devised a ruse by which to gain admittance to his hut.
He would go into the forest just before Shabbat and when he found Black Wolf's house, would pretend that he had lost his way. He would beg to spend the holy Shabbat there, and under the circumstances, Black Wolf could hardly refuse a fellow Jew that favor.
Friday afternoon he set out and as planned reached Black Wolf's hut. He knocked on the door and the man's wife answered.
Her horrible appearance marked her as a true equal to her husband, for never had a more hideous and unpleasant woman been seen.
Nevertheless, the rabbi begged her to allow him to stay over Shabbat.
"Very well," she finally relented. "But if my husband finds you here, he'll tear you apart with his bare hands. You can't stay in here, but go into the stable if you want," she croaked.
Soon Black Wolf arrived home and entered the stable, his eyes blazing with hatred. "How dare you come here! If you set foot outside of this stable, I'll rip you apart with my bare hands!"
The frightened Jew shivered in his boots as he beheld the terrible visage of Black Wolf.
Suddenly the thought came to the rabbi that a tzadik is so pure that he acts as a mirror, reflecting the image of the person who is looking upon him.
Thus, what he saw in the appearance of Black Wolf was nothing more or less than a picture of his own spiritual impurity. With that, he searched into his soul, and prayed from the deepest part of his being. He poured out his soul and in those few moments returned wholeheartedly to his Maker. He felt himself suffused with a warm, peaceful feeling.
Suddenly he was shaken from his reverie by the unexpected sensation of a soft hand being laid on his shoulder. He looked up, not quite sure what he would see, a shiver of fear passing through him. There stood Black Wolf, but instead of his accustomed fierce exterior, he had a refined and peaceful visage.
The visitor was ushered into the hut, which no longer appeared rough and tumble-down, but warm and inviting. Black Wolf's wife entered with her children, and their appearance, too, was beautiful and serene.
Black Wolf turned to his guest and said in a quiet voice, "I know why you have come here. I know, I know. You and your wife will rejoice in the birth of a boy. But you must name him Schvartze Wolf."
The rabbi wondered to himself, "How can I name my son after him? It is not our custom to name after the living," but he remained silent.
The following morning Shvartze Wolf passed away.
(textual-format courtesy of lchaimweekly.org)
A woman was feeling very depressed, so she went to see her doctor.
He asked, "Do you wake up grumpy in the morning?"
"No I don't", she replied, "I let the old bugger sleep on".
I cant stand people that wake up "on the wrong side" even worse if having to wake them up, oy what a nightmare.
hey this is such an awesome read... i'm glad i bookmarked you.. i'll be back often.. love emilia
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