“Enough Already!” :: Making Anger Worth Your While {Self-Discovery, Word by Word}
{image credit :: inf3ktion}
With half of second grade under my belt, I sauntered up to my mother, who was undoubtedly weary from dealing with the likes of me, and told her that I’d had enough.
“Enough of what, honey?” she asked, with just the right hint of interest to mask her involvement in her novel.
“Enough of all the boys winning on t.v.!” I said incredulously. I then went on to detail how all of the television commercials for board games featured the little boy of the group shaking his hands above his head in victory as the other children looked on in admiration. What I didn’t even realize at the time was that not only were the girls being left to be wallflowers, but the African American and Latino/a children weren’t even invited to the party.
So at the ripe age of six, I decided to write a letter to several of the board game companies who engaged in this boy-take-all practice. Milton Bradley, Hasbro, and all of the big game-makers received my pre-pubescent wrath. And when I saw a commercials airing years later that featured the blond darling girl as the champion, I felt victorious myself (I had given up on seeing someone who looked like me as the starlet).
Whether or not my second grade letter writing campaign produced a societal shift in advertising practices, we’ll never know (though I like to think so!). But what I do know is that the passion summoned to make my little voice heard was borne out of a decision that I’d had quite enough – enough bias, enough injustice, enough lack of progress in gender equality.
I might not have had the words to articulate what I knew, but I was quite certain when enough was enough. I think that we all know – somewhat inherently – when what we encounter just doesn’t feel right anymore. When we’ve reached our limit of tolerance and we just can’t take sitting back and observing.
I’m not generally an angry person, but I am a passionate person. And just like I felt as a young girl, I often find myself fed up with society. Here are some things that recently have made me want to shout, “Okay already, I’ve had enough!”
People being discriminated against due to the body shape or size.
Reality shows that promote distorted values.
Bashing parents for mental illness.
Writers being rude.
The sexualization and objectification of little girls.
Magazines offering quick (dangerous) fixes.
Companies making light of disordered eating.
Not being allowed to be sad.
And so much more…
So what do I do when I’ve had enough? Getting angry isn’t enough. So, sometimes I still write letters. I also blog as a means of sharing my perspective and generating new perspectives. I seek out the wisdom of others. I discuss and debate. I donate and urge others to do so.
What has made you say “Enough!” recently? How do you direct your frustration toward changing the world?
This post was written as part of the Self-Discovery, Word by Word series. To take part and share your thoughts on what ENOUGH means to you, head on over for details from this month’s incredible host, Miss Mary Max.
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[...] talks about using your “enough already!” moments to turn frustration into action. (Added snaps for kid!activism and tiny!person media [...]
Andrea Owen
247 days ago
Great post, Ashley! I’ve had enough of women thinking that buying a $350 handbag, or a boob job, or a hot boyfriend is the answer to their problems. Really, ladies? I guess I can’t be too judgmental, I was there once too. But, the real solution and might I add long-term solution is taking a good, hard look at yourself, take responsibility for everything you are, start loving the person you see in the mirror as well as your soul and work on yourself. Enough of hours and hours in the gym. Try spending hours working on your spirit. You deserve it. We ALL do.
Andrea Owen recently posted..In 10 Years Time
charlotte
245 days ago
I love your “angry” list! It makes me want to come up with my own. You’re so right that things will never change unless we start talking about it. I’ll add my voice to yours:)
charlotte recently posted..The Problem With Ordering Fitness Gear Online [Someone At Finish Line Is Messing With Me]
Grady Pruitt
242 days ago
Fascinating post!
There are times I want to say “Enough already!” to the people who feel they are “entitled” to something because of who they are or what they look like. I’ve been in a couple of situations where “discrimination” was being called out when the truth of what was going on was a totally different story. I don’t doubt that discrimination happens. I just think sometimes some people are a little to quick to jump to that conclusion without first evaluating themselves or the situation.
I also want to say “Enough already!” to the detrimental self talk that sometimes invades my head. Those thoughts were opinions of other people, long since out of my life, and not the opinions I have now, so stop popping up!
Thanks for sharing!
Grady Pruitt recently posted..The 3 Secrets of a Happy Marriage
Taron
227 days ago
I think it’s important to say what we think even if only one person listens to us. Writing letters is good too! I myself wrote a letter to Coleco at the age of 7, back in the 80s about how they were not very nice, not manufacturing enough cabbage patch kids to meet the demand for them. I’m not sure if that was as noble as your cause, but still. I found myself recently talking at a dinner party about how weight and health aren’t always correlated and although I think most of what I said didn’t make too much of an impact, as least I tried. Sometimes you can only change opinion one person at a time.
Taron recently posted..Hygiene Factors
Dave E Wilkes
105 days ago
What a great post and a great thought provoker.
I think that having “Enough Already” moments helps to define us as the people we are, as without having boundaries we have difficulty in developing a good self image.
I was brought up in a dysfunctional family where the children were encouraged to “put a happy face on” no matter what we felt like.
As you can imagine, I soon found it difficult to even know what i actually felt like after years of this!
My first “Enough Already” moment was when i saw someone treating a dog cruelly and I went over and threatened to take the dog away from him if he didn’t stop.
Looking back, i really don’t think that the opinions of a 13 year old lad carried as much weight as I wanted,. But he did stop (at least while I was watching him)!
Since then there have been many more “enough already” moments. I think it is a great expression to have and to use. Thanks for a thought provoking post
Dave E Wilkes recently posted..How to Feel Better About Yourself in One Easy Step