10 Comments

Thanks for your honest, no bones about it reflections on anger. Wow, nine likes and no comments—must be pretty hard to process negative emotions. Oh my gosh that’s funny. OK as a woman—well, starting out as a young girl, there was only one person in my family that was allowed to express and that was my father. My mother couldn’t express anger to save her life. I couldn’t either, so I married someone who had a lot of anger and I kind of experienced it vicariously through him. Over the years I learned that I needed to do something different with it, but to begin with when I started expressing my anger, it was not pretty and was not well received either. Like I said, women were not supposed to express anger at least in my family. I’ve gotten better at not bottling it and it’s taken a very long time to just own it and be done with it. Anger’s not bad, it’s just energy, and it’s better not to sit on it.

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Hey Marilyn :)

Thanks for giving this a read and for your great comment! "Anger's not bad, it's just energy, and it's better not to sit on it." Love it!

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Hi Peter, thanks for your reply. I am still mulling over whether you might be the first person whose Substack I might pay to read. It’s not that I think writers should not be paid for their work. It’s just the whole paywall thing and the whole marketing aspect of it can’t quite come to terms with yet not yet anyway I just want you to know I believe in you, you and your writing come across as so honest and authentic. Bipolar disorder(s) run in my mom‘s family btw. My husband is bipolar. He’s doing really well by the way, and as you know, being bipolar involves a lot of ups and downs, not the least of which is society’s complete misunderstanding of what it means to be bipolar. Peter, just know that I believe in what you’re doing. It’s not just brave it’s putting yourself out there where life is happening with an open heart. A lot of good will come from this in your life in the lives of others.

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Hey Marilyn :)

Thanks for sharing a little bit about your experience with bipolar disorder. Glad to know your husband is doing well.

Thanks as well for your kind words and support! As for becoming a paid subscriber...I feel very special that you're considering an upgrade. Makes me think I'm doing something right.

I recently sent out a paid subscriber post for those folks who do support my work with money. Maybe you saw it? Anyways, I'd love for more people to support my work, but honestly going out of your way to read, like, and comment is very helpful as well. The paid aspect certainly helps to push everything forward, but I'm still a ways away from finishing my main project. There is no pressure to buy a subscription, your support is certainly felt.

Also, if you'd like the chance to read through that paid subscriber post, just shoot me a message and we'll work out something.

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Hey Peter—I'm on the phone with my therapist right now. She says, “He’s a good wordsmith as well!”

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I’m sure we can work something out.

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Sep 9Liked by Peter Smetanick

It's wild to be behind the wheel when you're angry (I'm talking about myself). It's also kinda fun. :/

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Hey Kevin, nice to meet you here my friend. Thanks for giving this a read. In the chapter prior to this I try to paint a picture of what happened in the accident. Didn't feel like anger, but I do wonder if anger didn't have something to do with it. Anyways, i'll have to stop over at your page for a read. Cheers.

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Sep 8Liked by Peter Smetanick

Another admirably honest piece…

Keep going, Peter

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Hey Clark, thanks for giving me a read and for your continued support! Means so much. I'll keep going.

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