I know what the problem really is.
It has taken me years to figure this out, and just because I share it with you, it's a toss up whether or not you will (1) believe me and (2) begin to apply it to your own life, assuming you haven't already.
People annoy me when they don't do things the way I want them to.
This means they can annoy me when they call too often if I don't want them to.
Or they annoy me if they just don't call when really, they should.
They annoy me when they borrow things, and they annoy me when they don't let me borrow things.
They annoy me when they decline my invitations and they annoy me when they accept my invitations and stay too long, or not long enough.
They annoy me when they get annoyed, especially when they are annoyed at me being annoyed.
Strangers really annoy me.
They drive so darn slow, or fast, or recklessly.
It's no better when they get out of their cars and go into stores, especially when there is a big sale going on.
They annoy me when they don't know what they are doing and I am standing behind them in line.
They also annoy me when they are trying sell me something, or give me an opinion I don't agree with.
Snobs annoy me.
The overly bubbly also annoy me.
Children have a way of annoying that is both terrible and adorable. I can't stay mad at children, which really annoys me.
Adults know better, so it annoys me when they try to pretend something they have done is just a childish mistake. It won't work. I'm on to them.
Playing music I don't like really loud is very annoying.
When the previews to movies are longer than the movies and they tell me that they are rated as acceptable to show me as previews, I'm annoyed.
So what did I figure out?
Annoyance is an inside job.
It doesn't have anything to do with anyone else.
Sure, they can push my buttons and sure, I might react, but they can never push a button that isn't there. I display my buttons and in weird ways, I want, enable, or allow them to be pushed. Sometimes this validates something false I want to believe, or want others to believe, about me -- like I'm a victim or I'm a really good guy. I want others to believe that when I am annoyed, it is completely justified, unlike others who, frankly, are so annoying.
Because annoyance is an inside job, it is removed through confession.
I confess to God that I am sporting a bad attitude.
I have become the judge and jury of others I do not know and I have given myself, when looking at similar behaviors, a big pass.
I am corrupt and at times mean and petty.
I want what I want when I want it and I'm sorry.
So what can I do about my bad attitude once I have confessed it?
Ask for forgiveness and the power to walk in a new way, under better guidance than my own.
And as part of my sincere penance, Lord, help me truly and sincerely show kindness to everyone who crosses my path today.
Thank you for answering this, my Thanksgiving Prayer.
Amen.