Uhhhhhhhhh!
Ugggghhhhhh!
Errrrrrrrrrg!
Ohhhhhhhh!
Frustration. Interjections. Writing. For some reason, the three don't all mix. Combining them may make you look like a bad writer because you usually have to add so many extra letters for the proper effect. Take these shortened versions for example:
Ah! = Aha! I got it!
Aah! = Eek! A spider!
Uh! = I don't know! Why did you ask me?
Ugh! = I just got punched in the stomach and it knocked the wind out of me! or Eww! That's gross!
Erg! = Probably still Erg! Or maybe pirate noises?
Oh! = Aha! I got it! or Oops! I just remembered something!
That's when you give up on using the interjection and write something like: (correction in blue)
Sarah was tired from a long day at school and then being teased on the bus ride home. She ran straight up to her room, locked the door, and flung herself onto her bed.
And then you scream in frustration.
Do you ever have moments when you find yourself just screaming inside your head? Like if you have to do something because of social convention even though you really don't want to do it, or if you're running late for something and then you get stuck behind someone who's really slow and you can't get around them? Or maybe when the latest catchy and extremely annoying song comes on the radio and you have to suffer through it because someone else wants to listen to it? Maybe it's your friends and they aren't listening to you or they're forcing you to join their conversations that you don't want to have.
Then maybe something else comes. That feeling that really wants to emerge from the back of your head, the one that seethes from things like these, may start to churn a little faster. Maybe you let out a few angry words. Maybe you scream. Maybe your facial expression is intense enough to tell all you need to say. Maybe you keep it all inside and vent it out later. Maybe you don't ever let it out on its own, but you let it simmer until it explodes.
I think that Jesus didn't tell us to forgive just so we would mend friendships. Making peace with a situation helps keep down that internal anger. Social convention won't come over and apologize. The people in front of you don't know that you're running late. It's not the song's fault that it hit at a bad time. Your friends may not understand how you feel, and reacting with anger won't help. You don't need an apology to be able to forgive. Sure, it helps the process, but if you don't let it under your skin, you'll be happier.
And when someone makes you really mad, remember Romans 12:19-21: "Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: 'It is mine to avenge, I will repay,' says the Lord. On the contrary: 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (NIV ©2011)
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