John Y’s Musings from the Middle: Grouchy and Sarcastic

Getting an unpleasant message about yourself….

I heard some awfully wise advice at Sunday School last Sunday.

Our teacher said “Sarcasm is a sign of intelligence……without wisdom!”

His wife added the second part, and I think those are words to live by. So I try to be cautious and watch for sarcasm and crankiness and cut them off before they spread to the tip of my tongue.

But I am usually a little late to the scene. We need others to let us know when we are veering off course and have a tendency to dismiss unflattering feedback about ourselves. It seems to work itself out in ever escalating stages.

For example: When your family tells you that you are being grouchy and sarcastic, you can chew on it and disregard (several consecutive times) without consequence.

When a friend tells you that you are being grouchy and sarcastic, it gives you pause and reminds you to be more cheerful around them next time (or avoid them altogether for a while).

But when a person who is more of an acquaintance (hence objective observer) tells you that you are being grouchy and sarcastic…… Well, put it this way, it’s kind of like when you were a child and your parents told you that you needed to take a bath, but you didn’t. Then a friend suggested a bath, and you ignored them. But when someone who you barely knew suggested it was time “That boy took a bath,” well, you figured it was getting pretty close to the time to take a bath.

Or in this case,  to stop being a sarcastic grouch and soften up a bit….at least until you are, as I heard someone once say, “Sweeter than a bumblebees behind.”

Or thereabouts, give or take.   ;  ) At a minimum, sarcasm is to the soul what poor hygiene is to the body.

And if bystanders notice, it’s time for me some lye soap. For the soul.  ;  )