There is an old saying, “Never let your emotions get the best of you.” I have learned the hard way this week just how true that phrase really is.

If you are an avid reader of this column, you know that when I write a column, it is usually meant to inspire, to reflect, to evoke happiness, or to make you laugh. But as of late, my columns have been written only to rant, to vent, to release anger or to just lash out. The reason for the change in my columns is due to the recent changes in my emotions.

Due to a variety of negative events that have recently occurred in y life, coupled with things that have been bothering me to begin with, I have – as of late – been a real miserable you-know-what to everyone and everything around me. I have been snapping out and talking down to everyone, and I have been getting fed up and losing interest in everything. As a result of this behavior, I have obviously not been the best company. Although I am not normally like this and realize that I have not been myself, I continued to behave this way for the past month. I knew what I was doing was both unlike myself and just plain rude, but I was so angry and pissed off at the world that I did not care.

Well I started to care this week, because at almost the same time, everyone from my co-workers, to my friends, to my family, to my girlfriend Sandy have all told me that until I am myself again – they want nothing to do with me.

Honestly, I can’t blame them. I really have been a mean, rotten, miserable you-know-what lately. The funny thing is that I knew I was, but I let my emotions get the best of me so much that I could not snap out of it no matter how hard I tried. I saw the concern on the faces of my co-workers as I would walk around the office not talking to anyone or making conversation like I normally do. I saw the sadness in all of my friend’s eyes as they would try to cheer me up to no avail. I felt the anguish in my mother’s voice as she would ask me what was wrong and get “nothing” as my constant answer – and worst of all – I felt the breaking of Sandy’s heart as she would try her best to make me smile, and get nowhere.

The negative emotions I have been experiencing have not only clouded my behavior, but my job performance as well. I have been so upset, depressed and angry lately that I have been neglecting my job as host of Ring Fever, not caring about the South Park Digest – and worst of all – making such bad judgements at the DOB that I have the Mayor’s office upset with my recent performance.

Although I have snapped out of it and “taken a chill pill” more out of necessity than anything else, I must take this moment to sincerely apologize to everyone that I have upset, and thank them for putting up with my recent negativity. I know it wasn’t easy, but it is appreciated – and don’t worry – I’m back.

I have, however, learned a valuable lesson from this – I learned that no matter how upset, angry, depressed or down right ticked off you may be, make sure you keep control of your emotions, because if you don’t – they’ll control you – and before you know it – you’ll have a lot more to be sad about.