Big feelings.

Something we associate with kids.

Beings less developed than ourselves.

They don’t have the words to deal with them.

But they will, when they grow up.

That’s the working assumption.

Doesn’t work for all of us.

Probably most of us.

As a man of a certain age who’s somewhere on the spectrum that’s not as much fun at parties, the highlight reel tells me otherwise.

Moments in my life when I raged at things that in quieter moments make no sense.

  • A missed train connection in Japan
  • The wrong turn on a road trip in college
  • A tangle of cords in the home office

Each of those triggering an eruption, and quickly, more Mt. St. Helens than Iceland slow burn.

More aware of myself, and the precursors, I can fend off the explosion.

Except that sometimes?

I need that.

You might, too.

A moment where we can let loose the big feelings.

Scream into the void.

Smash our way out of the abyss.

Sound our barbaric yawp.

Because the words, even when we have them, sometimes, aren’t enough.