Having a 'Bad Mood Day'
It makes you want to scream!
by Marissa Kristal
I am not in a good mood today. In fact, as far as bad moods go, I am in the worst of really not good moods ever. And you know what else? I am not apologizing for it.
Anyone who knows me personally would probably read the above paragraph and laugh. They’d probably think that I was kidding, because to them, I am the girl that is always in a good mood.
For the first 15 years of my life this was acceptable. I didn’t really mind being thought of this way, because for the most part, I was always in a good mood. And when I wasn’t, I found that the good mood was easy to fake.
When I was younger, my incessant good mood drew people to me. I had more friends than I thought possible. I always had someone to hang out with on the weekends, I always a group to sit with in the cafeteria at school, and better yet I always had a boyfriend. My mom would say to me, “Always stay sweet and nice like you are, then people will want to be around you.” Terrific advice, thanks Mom!
But then something happened. Somewhere along the line, this continuous good mood of mine became, well in a word, sickening.
I am not quite sure of the exact time that the transition happened but I am pretty sure it was between high school and college. The personality trait that once drew people to me and made me likeable all of a sudden became my fatal flaw.
The “clique,” you know which one I’m talking about, decided that they could no longer hang out with me because I was too nice. I know a lot of people who have don’t have friends because they are mean, arrogant or unpleasant to be around, but too nice?
The constant circulation of boyfriends I had all through high school suddenly ceased upon entering college. All of a sudden being a “nice girl” wasn’t one of the desirable qualities boys were looking for anymore. I actually dated a guy who told me I wasn’t argumentative enough for him. I guess it’s not just the nice boys that finish last.
In my last year of college I told my loyal group of girlfriends that I was planning on trying out for the MTV reality show, “The Real World.” You know what their response was? “That’s great! You’ll cause such controversy. You’ll be the girl that is so nice to everyone that all your roommates will think you’re fake!”
Gee, how genuine.
The other day my boss asked me if I am ever in a bad mood. “Yes,” I responded through a big, cheesy grin, “I get in bad moods all the time.” Something tells me she didn’t quite believe me.
I guess what I am starting to realize is that being permanently optimistic and cheerful does not make people want to be around you. It only makes them want to throw things at you.
So I am here to finally bring to light a side of me that I have hidden from the public eye, and even myself, for 24 long years. But this side of me is real and it does exist and it is bursting to come out.
Today, I am in a bad mood. And for the first time in my life, I will not hide it.
And to all those people through the years who have told me I am too nice, my response to them is a boisterous, charismatic and sugary-sweet “thank you.”
Why? Because my liberated self is just itching to annoy them!
