"You can overrule your emotions, but you can't choose them. If I bugged you, I bugged you - no decision on your part. You can decide to ignore it, but not to not feel it. It is the reactions to the emotions that are chosen, not the emotions." Mrrzy

See, Mrrzy, I disagree roundly. If you bug me, I may feel bugged - but my next thought can diffuse and dissipate the 'buggedness'.

I work part time as a 'lunch lady' at two schools; I have only one co-worker.

As it happens, my co-worker chews gum and snaps it (she doesn't blow bubbles, thanks be) while we are preparing lunch. As it happens gum chewing in close quarters is a 'bug' issue for me.

I cogitated awhile until I was calm about it and then said, "You know, one of the health department's rules is no gum chewing. Their idea, I guess, is that a wad could end up in food."

Now, in actuality, I don't know that the health department has such a rule but it seems logical to me, and evidently it did to my co-worker also.

When we start to serve now her gum has disappeared. I no longer steam about it; talking about it removed the heat for me.

I'm now awaiting my moment to tell her that I don't think that gum belongs in a kitchen, at all. :)