How Not to Channel Your Anger

Here’s a story about a guy who, while on a Ryanair flight, won $13,600 from a scratch-off lottery ticket. The ticket was from the airline, so the guy wanted to collect his money right then and there. When told by the crew that he would have to send in his ticket for validation and to collect the money, he got mad. Really mad. So what did he do? The logical thing, of course: he ate the ticket!

Read the story here:

Furious Ryanair passenger eats his $13,600 winning lottery ticket

If there’s an example of unleashing brilliance by observing stupidly, this has to be it. What could possibly be going through this man’s head?

Here is how I imaging the conversation went:

“Hey, I won $13,000+ from this lottery ticket! Excuse me, may I collect my winnings right now?”

“I’m sorry sir, but we don’t pay out in flight. You have to send it in.”

“What?! Are you telling me part of your job description is not paying out lottery winnings? What the hell??”

“No, it’s not. Not to mention the fact that we don’t keep $13,000 in petty cash on hand on flights.”

“Well that is just the stupidest thing I have ever heard of!”

“Really sir? That’s stupider than expecting an airline to pay out a five digit scratch card payout mid-flight”

“Arrrgh!! You make me so angry!”

“Sir, if you don’t calm down i will summon the air marshal.”

“Arrrgh!! That’s it! I’ll show you – I will eat this ticket!”

“Umm, sir, you do realize that if you eat the ticket, you can’t collect, right? I mean, the airline does not accept eaten and digested tickets.”

“Arrrgh!! I don’t care! I am so mad! This will show all of you! Chomp, chomp, chomp – Gaachk!”

“Sir, are you all right?”

“Grghg hahlkj jahjah.”

“Sir, are you choking on the lottery ticket you just ate?”

(Man nods furiously)

“No problem. That will be $2.”

“RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

POP! (Man’s head explodes. Rest of plane claps. Except for man’s seat mate, who causally wipes off man’s exploded head remains to claim winning lottery ticket, then calmly puts it into his pocket to turn in later like a proper, sane person).

We all run into situations that make us angry, but the world would be such a better place, and so many people’s lives would be so much easier and more successful, if they were just able to pause for a second or two, think things through, put them in perspective, and then take simple logical action.

I am assuming you are smart enough to never get so mad that you eat a $13,600 lottery ticket (If I am wrong, please get off my blog. Now.). But try to think back to this stupid Ryanair passenger the next time you find your anger rising and you feel tempted to take rash and potentially stupid action.

You may not save $13,600, but you just might save your dignity.

***
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By Avish Parashar. As the world's only Motivational Improviser, Avish uses techniques from the world of improv comedy to engage, entertain, and educate audiences on ideas around change, creativity, and motivation. Connect with Avish on Google+

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