I've been feeling emotionally volatile the last few days. A lot of anger has been coming up. After fear/anxiety, anger is the hardest emotion for me to deal with. The obsessive angry thoughts have been all-consuming. Anger is complicated because it has several layers. It's difficult to get to the bottom of it, and so easy to pin it on any number of external triggers. Or even get it confused with other emotions (fear etc). I'm reading Thich Nhat Hanh's "Taming The Tiger Within. Meditations on Transforming Difficult Emotions". The idea is much the same as Pema Chodron's "Smile At Fear" teachings. Namely, that we need to turn towards our anger and surround it with loving kindness......Not easy!!!!!!!!

I went for a run this morning. That felt good. And it was the only thing that gave me a break from my obsessive thoughts. It was a beautiful, beautiful morning. We've had so much rain over the past month or so and yesterday spring returned in full force. The hills where I hike and run are so lush and green and radiant (and flooded in parts!!! ) I had been hiking yesterday but it wasn't enough to interrupt my angry ruminations. Running really did give me a break. The thoughts started back up again not long after I stopped, but they were less intense. And this evening the rumination has pretty much ceased. For which I am truly grateful.

I'm looking forward very much to our sangha tomorrow (Wednesday). I think we've agreed on 6.00 Eastern and 9.00 pm PST? And I think we're using the link you posted the other day, ss?

I'll check in tomorrow morning. Sending you all much love and wishing you a restful night