Steve Kovacs

Those Pesky Little Things That Bother, Anger, Frustrate and Make Us Laugh



Posted: Tuesday, July 28, 2009

by Steve Kovacs
The Kovacs Perspective

I am not sure what bothers me more, having someone drive ten miles under the speed limit in front of me or the driver who tailgates me so close we either should be married or at least should have shared a drink together before such a close encounter. On the other hand, maybe the driver who was on the highway, in the high-speed lane, in a 60 MPH zone, going 50 miles an hour because she was texting. That was a good one!

Alternatively, maybe the rude man in the grocery checkout line who was treating the operator like his personal whipping post. While on the subject of grocery stores, there was another incident in a checkout lane that initially bothered me then made me laugh. A man was arguing on and on with a checkout operator over possibly being shortchanged . . . a dime. I liked what a man behind him did. He took a dime out of his own pocket, gave it to the man, and told him "everything's fine now". Mr. Rude was at a loss for words and sheepishly left the store. That was a classic!

Something else that angers and frustrates me is all the politicians in my area who are being criminally investigated. However, I'm not sure if I am not more bothered because these same politicians have put so many incompetent people in important positions because of "politics".

And how about an issue that frustrates, angers and bothers co-workers and bosses alike. It is the employee, who chronically complains that he or she cannot get their work done in an eight-hour workday, yet finds the time to email 50 jokes to co-workers everyday.

Thank God, I do not let most of these things bother me too much too often. However, every now and then I slap my forehead and say . . . well, I do not need to repeat what I say, but you get the point.

I guess most everyone who reads this will have their own little things that set them off and annoy them. I hope you don't let it bother you too much as too much anger cannot be healthy. It is better to laugh at most of this stuff. In addition, it is a lot easier on your forehead.

Steve is the author of Protect Yourself: The Simple Keys Women Need to be Safe and Secure. He is the host of the Internet Radio Talk Show, The Kovacs Perspective http://www.thekovacsperspective.com/ where he interviews experts in various fields, geared to help and inform. Steve also does on-line current events & political audio commentary.

Steve's background is in law enforcement, security, investigations, teaching and he is also the president of a small specialty investigation company: http://www.allsourcesecurity.com/investigations.htm. Contact Steve any time at:info@thekovacsperspective.com

This Article has been viewed 3,329 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More comments
» left by Connor Davidson
 2 years 291 days ago.
95 fans. Follow Connor Davidson on twitter!
Great article. Well done.
 
I have a policy of treat others how they treat you. If someone is not nice to you, you should be equally foul. Treat people how you would like to be treated does not work.
 
Well, that's my solution or problem escalator - however you want to look at it.
» left by Steve Kovacs 2 years 291 days ago.
96 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!
Hi Connor,
Thanks for reading, commenting and letting me how you handle some of these things.  I enjoy your articles and look forward to reading more of em!
» left by David Tanguay
 2 years 291 days ago.
189 fans.
Yeah Steve, the world is full of kooks but we have to put up with them. We ourselves are not exempt we all have our off days. good article
» left by Steve Kovacs 2 years 291 days ago.
96 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!
How true that is.  I have been the one doing some goofy things more often than I'd like to admit--thanks for reading.
» left by Michael Ramzy
 2 years 291 days ago.
49 fans.
I love this article. One thing I've found, though, is laughter is the best (and sometimes only) medicine. Thanks for sharing.
» left by Steve Kovacs 2 years 291 days ago.
96 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!
Hi Mike--I think you are right--laughter is the way to go!  Thanks for reading and your comments--I appreciate it.
» left by Avis Ward
 2 years 291 days ago.
132 fans.
Steve, I'm like Michael, I love this article and try to find humor in the things that bother, anger and frustrate me. Even if I laugh at my own behavior concerning them. I've been the one to give a coin to the rude customer arguing with the clerk about being shortchanged. Rudeness will set me off and knowing this, I'm forever whispering for the words of my mouth and inner meditations be pleasant and pleasing to Him and others. I've been spoken to rudely before because I stuck my nose in but when doing that, I'm always prepared for what is said to me and hardly offended. I abhor rudeness! Again, I love this article!
» left by Steve Kovacs 2 years 291 days ago.
96 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!
I'm glad you liked it!  Rude people suck and as Mike and you say, I think laughter is the way to go.  Sometimes I have to remind myself to go that route.  I also like that you said you laugh at yourself at times--me too.  I think the more we can laugh at ourselves the better off we are.  Thanks Avis.
» left by Brianna Popsickle 2 years 291 days ago.
121 fans.
I feel your pain Steve. All of those things you mention, irritate me as well. As long as you keep slapping your own forehead and no one else's, you'll stay out of trouble. As for you Connor, you might want to try another approach in dealing with rude  people. Turn on the charm, smile and be especially nice to them. It drives them nuts! They're not equipped to deal with such behaviour. Another enjoyable article Steve.
» left by Steve Kovacs 2 years 290 days ago.
96 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!
yeah, I do not plan on using other peoples foreheads...thanks for writing, it's nice to hear from you and to read your articles-- 
» left by Susan Thom
 2 years 290 days ago.
179 fans.
hi steve,
 
i have been working on anger issues through many sources, for many years. i'm pretty happy with where i am, although always trying to improve, as well as setbacks!
 
well, this calmness came in handy when i opened the cupboard and reached for the new ketchup, and the mustard came flying out, top opened, mustard splattered all over the kitchen, mostly on the floor. i just stood there for a minute and then knew what to do-start cleaning it up. my partner asked me why there was mustard on the wall in the kitchen today!
 
at a time in my life, with 3 little kids running around, and my temper, i would have gone nuts, but either laughter, as you say, or no reaction, are usually the best ways to deal.
 
thanks for sharing,
 
my best,
 
sue
» left by Steve Kovacs 2 years 290 days ago.
96 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!
Hi Sue--Laughter and no response, yes, I like that.  I too, have been known to fly off the handle--short fused...but I love it when I can laugh at myself.  It seems when people have a lot of stress in their lives and it piles up and piles up some more they can get more short fused, me included.  I guess laughter, not sweating the small stuff and a coupe of other life skills all can help--not to mention listening to the many good people out there who actually care--thanks for writing!    
» left by Hannah Quinn
 2 years 290 days ago.
45 fans.
G'day Steve,
 
I hate tailgaters the most - and let's face it, they're dangerous. Two things about them: one, I slow down and slow down and slow down until they finally get the point and back off. The instant they do, I return to the correct speed. Most learn straight away, but there have been some who have had to have this done to them more than once before they get it. And, two, if they don't back off, I enjoy the fact that if they do hit me, they'll do more damage to their car than mine, because it's they're engine they are going to ruin!
 
One thing about getting older is you mellow out on a lot of things. Then again, you react to things you once didn't because whose got time for others who misbehave or are rude or thoughtless.
 
Thanks for an article we can all identify with on many levels!
 
Cheers, Hannah
» left by Steve Kovacs 2 years 290 days ago.
96 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!

Great to hear from a person from “Down Under”--thanks for reading and taking the time to write.  I’m with you on tailgaters they are my greatest dislike.  As for getting older, I agree that most mellow as the years go by, however, some old folks get worse and downright nasty, as they get older.   Thanks again for your words.    

 

» left by Teresa Ortiz
 2 years 289 days ago.
188 fans.
HI Steve, Brilliant :-) So true, I recently witnessed an incident in the post office that I was going to write about, but couldn't find the words. A man made a gi-normous scene because the woman behind me wouldn't give him his place back in line. She simply said, you left so now I am behind her. He went on and on about how petty she was. She turned to him abruptly and said, don't mess with me! When she was by my side, both of us at the counter, she went on to tell the clerk that her son may not live much longer, when he asked how she was doing. Even after this, when he got to the counter, (I was still there) He said some people just need to relax - blah, blah, blah! I finally turned to him and said you know, she's probably not as concerned with your rightful place in line as she is with the thought that her son might die! Sad part is, he still didn't get it - who was the fool and uptight one? Sheesh. Thanks for this write, it gave me an excuse to vent :-)
 
Blessings to you! Teresa
» left by Steve Kovacs 2 years 288 days ago.
96 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!
Hi Teresa,
I have not been called brilliant since elementary school when the nuns caught me doing something dumb that they facetiously called brilliant--which by the way was quite often, so thank you very much for those words!
 
It sometimes does seem some people do not have a clue.  I think being wrapped up in their own problems, and being caught up in their "mess" kind of blinds em maybe.  That guy was certainly the one uptight and acting like a fool! 
 
 I'm glad you were able to vent!!!!----thanks for writing...
» left by Julian Price
 2 years 289 days ago.
58 fans. Follow Julian Price on twitter!
Yes, i am all for forehead preservation! As you point out, its very difficult to remain patient in some of these crazy situations but also as you point out, if we can remain calm it will probably be more beneficial for us. However there is never an excuse for rudeness! I had a mini rant about that in my "please and thank you" article. Enjoyed this. Julian
» left by Steve Kovacs 2 years 288 days ago.
96 fans. Follow Steve Kovacs on twitter!
Hi Julian,
Yes, at times it's really hard to remain patient, calm and understanding with some of this stuff--but it's sure better than kind of going off the deep end.  I'm glad you enjoyed the article and thanks for writing, I appreciate it.  
» left by kenny 2 years 181 days ago.
Hi Steve! I am not going to bash your piece because I see your underlying point and it is a good one, however, there were some sentences written in it that made me wonder what you were getting at, and since I feel we owe it to each other in our writer's community to be honest about each other's writing, we should question and direct our concerns to those things which may be confusing in certain sentences or paragraphs....
 
For instance, I didn't understand the sentence, "On the other hand, maybe the driver who was on the highway, in the high-speed lane, in a 60 MPH zone, going 50 miles an hour because she was texting. That was a good one!"
 
*** I don't quite understand what your point or intention is here...The sentence is fragmented and unclear.
 
*** Then you follow that with, "Alternatively, maybe the rude man in the grocery checkout line who was treating the operator like his personal whipping post.
 
*** Again, a fragmented sentence!
 
*** Then you said, "Something else that angers and frustrates me is all the politicians in my area who are being criminally investigated.
 
*** To finish the sentence you should have asked yourself, What about the politicians? What is it that makes me/you angry when they are investigated? Also, what does any of that have to do with a grocery check-out line?
 
*** Staying within the parameters of your point is of most importance.....Good job overall, but be weary of the fragments.
 
*** Just a little heads-up! ...................Kenny

More comments
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.