I recently read an article about the flight attendant, Steven Slater, who had a beef with his employer and said screw it, I’m grabbing a beer and then launching the emergency shoot of the plane to say “peace out,” “BLEEP you,” and “have a nice day.”
…THEEEEEN… I heard that Americans across the country said, “Word! That man is a hero!” and they all pushed their little like buttons on facebook and thereby catapulted Mr. Slater to fame and eventual fortune. I say eventual cuz the so-called “hero” is getting calls about a book deal, interviews, reality TV… OF COURSE! Where was an unsolicited cameraman every time MY life took a turn for the worse, great or cursive!
Now I’m not bitter or anything, no no… I can see both sides here. No one wants to admit that going postal is a good thing — it can go tragic or it can go funny, lead to fame or financial ruin. And a part of me says YAY – stick it to the man! But really, really… when did we all get so flippin’ negative!? ((SIGH))
How many of us are festering over the fights we didn’t get into as kids? Who among us replay the moment we didn’t speak up for ourselves at work ‘cause it was tied to our livelihood? How often have you bitten your tongue when the correct response was burning hot on the tip…. dripping with the right amount of truth, humor and distain… so much so that it makes your enemy turn into stone with two shakes of a lamb’s tail? Perhaps you suck up 10 breaths as needed to maintain your composure in the face of a total ignoramus who is your manager or boss?
Well… after reviewing incidents like Slater’s and the cult-like following he received, I wonder if we all just need to chill the heck out? After all, we really don’t want to “fester and rot…” … do we?
[see Meg Ryan in FRENCH KISS for her scene about festering and rotting – a CLASSIC]
But OK, so if you’re saying to yourself — I won’t fester, I’ll express myself, I’ll be calm… do you ever then wonder if the “bad guys” are using this rationality against you? That you’re being a pansy for NOT throwing a left hook?
Well, I know I used to think about this a lot — whenever I chose the higher road and ran to yoga or took my deep breaths to avoid a confrontation. I asked myself — does this make me weak? I reassured myself – no, morally and spirituality it makes me stronger… but then I wonder if I was just being complacent… and then soon I just quit my job and invited a little poverty into my life… while my punk boss who made life a living day at a tea party rally sits comfortably in her office, smiling at the victory of shoving me out the door. ((SIGH)) ((SIGH SIGH SIGH))
Indeed, when I think about this current state of affairs I’m in I feel weak. I feel like I want to fight back. I want to yell loudly when it’s inappropriate. I want to punch someone out, grab a beer and head for the emergency exit. I want to be strong in every way to excuse lacking it when I needed it most.
And in doing this I realize it was my fault. I should have been stronger. I should have acted sooner before allowing matters to escalate. And, in recognizing this, I discover the person I hurt the most – myself. Do I really want to stay somewhere I hate and fight all day? Do I really want to be arrested or black listed for throwing some punches… do I want the stress, aggression or hate that follows from such self-deprecating behavior? Is this who I want to be?
I don’t think so. And so perhaps I am in the midst of writing this all to say that Mr. Slater is a hero… a hero for walking away from a life’s pursuit that simply wasn’t his. I know people who would love his job. I know folks who would have thrived at my old one. But just because they would doesn’t mean I should… and I think similarly the current angry state of affairs in the US and in companies the nation-wide are bespeaking a much larger phenomenon. Indeed, it’s a symptom of a chronic illness – stress from being in a situation you feel you have little control over.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time. Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.
God or no God — if our options are to stress over circumstances we cannot control OR focus our attention to those things we CAN control…then which camp would you rather be in? Camp 1 leads to stress and anger… camp 2 leads to healing, patience, and good feelings of ownership of one’s life.
If you say YAY – camp 1! All the way!!! Then please indulge me and check out this video:
You can learn more at http://killerstress.stanford.edu/. But what I took away from it is that the goal is zero to low stress. Chronic stress IS a killer — so get out of a job if you hate it. Get out of that routine, that negative relationship…. free yourself from daily stress! That IS something you can change! And if there’s something you want out of life go for it – grab it by the (ahem ahem) and never let go! And smile!
****************
As a side note, the video mentions another aspect of stress — social hierarchy. In the studies, monkeys with no control over their life and in a position of low social standing suffer the most the effects of chronic stress.
Going back to Mr. Slater – it’s now completely understandable that he freaked out. And given the economic state of affairs and the above video content… it’s understandable that Slater was such a big hit.
The New York Times printed a very interesting article discussing the matter of heroes in modern society. You can read the original here: Click here. The cultural historians, according to the article, say that a hero comes in 3 different shapes and sizes:
1. a person who delivers an acts of spectacular courage and skill (i.e., Capt. Chesley B. Sullenberger III, who landed a US Airways jet on the Hudson River in 2009 and took charge of the safe evacuation of all 155 people aboard)
2. a person who is a political figure, (i.e., abolitionist John Brown, Ghandi, or Michael Collins, the Irish revolutionary)
3. a person who is flawed in some way identifiable to the masses and is willing to risk their life or livelihood in the name of defying “da Man” (i.e., Steven Slater)
Interesting. So Slater did something we all hope we could have done – it doesn’t have to be as dramatic, but again – if you are hoping for something, then please, stop hoping and say, “I WILL ______________.”
And have faith that it WILL work out in time – even Slater, at first imprisoned and unemployed, soon found agents and offers at his prison-door step, and the toast of a nation.
So let’s celebrate his courage and smile at the possibility for greatness in our own lives!
Velvethandcuffs's Blog 
Social ranking and stress – the monkeys get it, why can’t we?
VIEW VIDEO ABOUT FLIGHT ATTENDANT STEVEN SLATER BECOMING AN ICON: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spDBM5vBxR8
I recently read an article about the flight attendant, Steven Slater, who had a beef with his employer and said screw it, I’m grabbing a beer and then launching the emergency shoot of the plane to say “peace out,” “BLEEP you,” and “have a nice day.”
…THEEEEEN… I heard that Americans across the country said, “Word! That man is a hero!” and they all pushed their little like buttons on facebook and thereby catapulted Mr. Slater to fame and eventual fortune. I say eventual cuz the so-called “hero” is getting calls about a book deal, interviews, reality TV… OF COURSE! Where was an unsolicited cameraman every time MY life took a turn for the worse, great or cursive!
Now I’m not bitter or anything, no no… I can see both sides here. No one wants to admit that going postal is a good thing — it can go tragic or it can go funny, lead to fame or financial ruin. And a part of me says YAY – stick it to the man! But really, really… when did we all get so flippin’ negative!? ((SIGH))
How many of us are festering over the fights we didn’t get into as kids? Who among us replay the moment we didn’t speak up for ourselves at work ‘cause it was tied to our livelihood? How often have you bitten your tongue when the correct response was burning hot on the tip…. dripping with the right amount of truth, humor and distain… so much so that it makes your enemy turn into stone with two shakes of a lamb’s tail? Perhaps you suck up 10 breaths as needed to maintain your composure in the face of a total ignoramus who is your manager or boss?
Well… after reviewing incidents like Slater’s and the cult-like following he received, I wonder if we all just need to chill the heck out? After all, we really don’t want to “fester and rot…” … do we?
[see Meg Ryan in FRENCH KISS for her scene about festering and rotting – a CLASSIC]
But OK, so if you’re saying to yourself — I won’t fester, I’ll express myself, I’ll be calm… do you ever then wonder if the “bad guys” are using this rationality against you? That you’re being a pansy for NOT throwing a left hook?
Well, I know I used to think about this a lot — whenever I chose the higher road and ran to yoga or took my deep breaths to avoid a confrontation. I asked myself — does this make me weak? I reassured myself – no, morally and spirituality it makes me stronger… but then I wonder if I was just being complacent… and then soon I just quit my job and invited a little poverty into my life… while my punk boss who made life a living day at a tea party rally sits comfortably in her office, smiling at the victory of shoving me out the door. ((SIGH)) ((SIGH SIGH SIGH))
Indeed, when I think about this current state of affairs I’m in I feel weak. I feel like I want to fight back. I want to yell loudly when it’s inappropriate. I want to punch someone out, grab a beer and head for the emergency exit. I want to be strong in every way to excuse lacking it when I needed it most.
And in doing this I realize it was my fault. I should have been stronger. I should have acted sooner before allowing matters to escalate. And, in recognizing this, I discover the person I hurt the most – myself. Do I really want to stay somewhere I hate and fight all day? Do I really want to be arrested or black listed for throwing some punches… do I want the stress, aggression or hate that follows from such self-deprecating behavior? Is this who I want to be?
I don’t think so. And so perhaps I am in the midst of writing this all to say that Mr. Slater is a hero… a hero for walking away from a life’s pursuit that simply wasn’t his. I know people who would love his job. I know folks who would have thrived at my old one. But just because they would doesn’t mean I should… and I think similarly the current angry state of affairs in the US and in companies the nation-wide are bespeaking a much larger phenomenon. Indeed, it’s a symptom of a chronic illness – stress from being in a situation you feel you have little control over.
God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time. Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make all things right if I surrender to His Will; That I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him Forever in the next. Amen.
God or no God — if our options are to stress over circumstances we cannot control OR focus our attention to those things we CAN control…then which camp would you rather be in? Camp 1 leads to stress and anger… camp 2 leads to healing, patience, and good feelings of ownership of one’s life.
If you say YAY – camp 1! All the way!!! Then please indulge me and check out this video:
You can learn more at http://killerstress.stanford.edu/. But what I took away from it is that the goal is zero to low stress. Chronic stress IS a killer — so get out of a job if you hate it. Get out of that routine, that negative relationship…. free yourself from daily stress! That IS something you can change! And if there’s something you want out of life go for it – grab it by the (ahem ahem) and never let go! And smile!
****************
As a side note, the video mentions another aspect of stress — social hierarchy. In the studies, monkeys with no control over their life and in a position of low social standing suffer the most the effects of chronic stress.
Going back to Mr. Slater – it’s now completely understandable that he freaked out. And given the economic state of affairs and the above video content… it’s understandable that Slater was such a big hit.
The New York Times printed a very interesting article discussing the matter of heroes in modern society. You can read the original here: Click here. The cultural historians, according to the article, say that a hero comes in 3 different shapes and sizes:
1. a person who delivers an acts of spectacular courage and skill (i.e., Capt. Chesley B. Sullenberger III, who landed a US Airways jet on the Hudson River in 2009 and took charge of the safe evacuation of all 155 people aboard)
2. a person who is a political figure, (i.e., abolitionist John Brown, Ghandi, or Michael Collins, the Irish revolutionary)
3. a person who is flawed in some way identifiable to the masses and is willing to risk their life or livelihood in the name of defying “da Man” (i.e., Steven Slater)
Interesting. So Slater did something we all hope we could have done – it doesn’t have to be as dramatic, but again – if you are hoping for something, then please, stop hoping and say, “I WILL ______________.”
And have faith that it WILL work out in time – even Slater, at first imprisoned and unemployed, soon found agents and offers at his prison-door step, and the toast of a nation.
So let’s celebrate his courage and smile at the possibility for greatness in our own lives!