Giaele e Sisara (ca.1620) - Artemisia Gentileschi (Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest)

Two elderly ladies had stopped to have a chat by the frozen food section at Islington Sainsbury’s.

‘Oh, I’m so sorry, Barbara. That’s awful. But you know, you shouldn’t worry about it.’

Barbara took her friend by the arm, and made her point forcefully.

‘I’m not worried about it, Sheila. I’m just pissed off!’

There was a pause as the women reflected on the situation, and then Barbara continued.

‘They say ‘be the better woman’ and all that malarkey. But Sheila, I’m just really bloody annoyed.’

I rather liked Barbara’s attitude to life: don’t worry, get angry.

In the world of work, we often let conflicts and disagreements eat away at us. We fret and fuss, brood and agonize. We lose sleep and gain ulcers.

But anger is perhaps a more constructive mode.

Though often characterised as a negative emotion, anger, properly harnessed and directed, can fire us up, energise and excite us. It can prompt intense planning and focused action. It can be a creative force.

As musician John Lydon has frequently observed, ‘anger is an energy.’

‘Don't view anger negatively, don't deny it – use it to be creative… It can take just one positive move to change things for the better… Sometimes the arguing actually helps; it feeds in.’
John Lydon, ‘My Life Uncensored’

The two elderly ladies had clearly known each other for many years. Their conversation seemed to have helped, and they separated in good spirits by the frozen peas.

‘Anyway, I’ve got to hurry along, Barbara.’
‘Yes, of course, Sheila. Give my love to Dennis.’

'Drove to the forest in a Japanese car.
The smell of rubber on country tar.
Hindsight does me no good.
Standing naked in this back of the woods.
The cassette played pop tones.
I can't forget the impression you made.
You left a hole in the back of my head.
I don't like hiding in this polish and peat.
It's wet and I'm losing my body heat.
The cassette played pop tones.
This bleeding heart looking for bodies.
Nearly injured my pride.
Preys picnicking in the British countryside.
Pop tones.
Pop tones.’
Public Image Ltd, ‘Poptones’ (J Lydon / J Wardle / K Levene)

No. 575