Inviting anger.

Day 45 of the Unknown.

If there is one thing I did not expect on this journey, it's the plethora of emotions I experience. Unfiltered, right in the face. Often unexpected. A consequence of bursting the comfort zone bubbles they had been hiding in.

And just as I thought I know them all, I'm greeted by a new visitor: anger. Deep, discontentment that wants to get to the surface. Well, hello there. Not so nice to meet you.

Traveling my last destination, North Africa, as a single European woman was an enriching but also challenging experience. Assertive bazar salesmen, flirting taxi drivers, nudging to give high tips and the challenge of finding vegetarian meals.*(Bless everyone I met, their direct entrepreneurial spirit and assertion is admirable.).

In short: tests on my boundaries. As much as I try to practice patience and kindness, after the 20th offer of a taxi, I got angry. I perceived my space as invaded - my personal freedom to roam around undisturbed. Especially growing up in a reserved, individualistic nature, this was out of my comfort zone.

I don't like saying 'no'. Who does? I don't like expressing anger, creating conflict or telling someone that I don't appreciate a specific behaviour. Especially as women, we are taught to 'be nice'. To nurture and please others. To not stick our heads out too far because we might upset others.

But anger - if expressed respectfully - can be a powerful engine to transformation. Yes, it can create temporary perturbation. But it can also be the catalyst to change. The trigger to to stand up for what you believe in and to speak out. Anger can fuel a deep fire in the soul. So here's to more anger in our lives.

*Disclaimer: with that I don't mean 'dumping' your anger onto other people. That is different. Respectful anger is: "When you do XYZ it makes me angry and what I need is ABC." vs shouting "Hey, you suck"