Reduce the drama

(Edit: If you see yourself in this post... don't worry. This isn't my passive aggressive attempt at telling you something. This is not targeted toward anyone specific. This is a general post about the drama in our lives. If you can take something from this and improve your life, great! If it doesn't apply, them hopefully this post will be amusing and your will just move on to the next post. And please, do not leave a comment justifying your drama. We all have problems.)

Can we start a NO DRAMA day on LJ? Or maybe a Drama 12 Step Program.

"Hi, my name is Andrew. I'm a drama'holic. I know I'm powerless to the drama."

(Here is where I tried to take the AA 12 Steps and modify them for Drama'holics, but it just got really stupid very fast, so I stopped. Maybe you can do it better.)

Those of you out there who are prone to lots of drama in your lives, did you ever think that maybe it's YOU. What are you doing that's feeding the drama? What can you do to stop the growing drama? STEP AWAY FROM THE DRAMA!

I have to admit, even I am a bit of a drama'holic. I've been pretty good about not creating to much drama in my life, but if I sniff out some drama happening around me, I have to go investigate and find out what's going on. It's like rubber necking while driving past a traffic accident. I'm trying to change that. If I hear about your drama, I'm not going to ask what's going on... because it's none of my business. If I drive past an accident, I'm not going to even look at it, keeping my eyes firmly looking forward. (Though if I have passengers I encourage them to look so they can tell me what's going on.)

If you have an honest problem that you need some help with, then I'm happy to help you work towards a solution. If you just need to vent, I'm happy to listen. But if you need are looking for a reaction to your situation that does anything but try to calm and end it, then I'm not going to be able to help you.

(Yeah, this whole posts sounds pretentious, and a bit like drama itself. This is written more for myself than you. It's to remind me that it is better to walk away from the drama then get myself involved.)

Tips for reducing the drama:

1. If someone wrongs you, forgive her or him and move on.
2. If a situation is unfair, either live with it or leave. Life is unfair.
3. The only person that you are truly responsible for is yourself. Well, unless you have kids. Then you are responsible for them too, but only until they are 18. (Edit, thanks to cakmpls) You can try and teach them how to reduce drama, but sometime children (and adults!) don't listen.
   
4. Some times you have to be the bad guy. Be direct and don't prolong the pain. Get in, do what you need to do, and get out.
   
   (Right now I can't think of any more drama reduction steps. Can you think of some good ones? Oh... I have a good one... "Don't write long posts about why you hate drama!)
   
   (Edit: Here are a few more added by friends...)
   
   
5. In the Grand Scheme of things, does it really matter? (added by benpanced)
6. If it's good drama, sell the screenplay to Television. (added by stormecho)
7. Drama is probably the opposite of fun. So if you get more fun in your life, you'll probably have less drama. Check out The eight principles of fun. (added by jbru)
8. Sit up straight, lace up, put on your game face. We're playing Hockey here folks! (added by mizzlaurajean)
   

Remember, drama belongs in the garbage, not the recycling.

Update on neighborhood shooting...

[from Startribune.com]

Man charged in Richfield shooting
A Richfield man was charged today with unintentional murder for shooting his half- brother to death in their home last Friday.

By Jim Adams, Star Tribune

Last update: March 06, 2007 – 1:42 PM

A Richfield man was charged Tuesday with unintentional murder for shooting his half- brother to death in their home last Friday.

Jerome H. Bartlett, 40, allegedly got into an argument with his half-brother who went out with a friend to get takeout food and found the front door locked when he returned about 9 p.m. Friday. Derek Storrusten, 36, had left it unlocked and got angry at his brother for locking it, said the friend, according to second-degree murder charges filed in Hennepin County District Court. The charging document continued:

Storrusten pounded on the door and called his Bartlett's cell phone before getting in through a back door. He started arguing on the basement stairs with Bartlett, then went down stairs to Bartlett's bedroom. Then the friend, who was identified only by initials, heard a loud gunshot.

"You killed me," Storrusten yelled a few times, the friend told police.

"Talk to Jesus," Bartlett replied several times.

The friend ran outside and called police, as did Bartlett. He said Bartlett appeared in his underwear and yelled at him to go home.

Bartlett initially told police he was awakened by noises he thought were made by an intruder and accidentally shot his brother. Then he said he knew it was Storrusten, but he fired in self defense.

Bartlett was waiting for police and directed them to the basement where they found Storrusten dead, with a 50 mm handgun a few feet away. He was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center where he died that night.

Jim Adams • 612-673-7658 • jadams@startribune.com

Bad Hat

Ok, Phil Stacey... that bald guy on American Idol... the first shot of him when singing, a straight on shot, he looked REALLY creepy with that hat on. His eyes were big, his voice was low, and his face was in the shadow of the hat. He's inside! What does he ned the hat for? We already know he's bald! Yuck hat.