How mood swings are just part of being human and how walking is good for the soul.

Do you ever find yourself getting irrationally irritated for no reason? Maybe when you are walking down the street and people kindly shout "Hello" but they somehow seem to piss you off. Or someone in the queue in front of you takes forever to do something and you want to punch them in the face. Inappropriate, yes. A realistic thought, also yes. You may step back and think to yourself 'why am I getting so angry?' 

If you're a girl it's usual to blame the ol' menstrual cycle - PMS. But, if someone (particularly males) blames it for you then they will be on the receiving end of your wrath, that's a certainty. After this response knowing that you now have a valid reason for your cross behavior, you feel OK until you realise that you're not due on for another two weeks so you cannot blame the 'time of the month'. So you just blame being a girl, which usually works and shuts the people up who are questioning whether you're OK due to your miserable facial expression. IT'S JUST MY NATURAL FACE. However, eventually you will notice that this mood is a daily occurrence and has no rational explanation. Welcome to my life.

I realise that I've singled out women here and I am highly wrong to do so. So many men I know also have this 'permanent mood swing' syndrome and get deeply agitated by the most minute issues. Therefore, I've decided that it's just human.

Working around people every day as many of us do, I find that I have to have the patience of a saint a lot of the time. Most customers are lovely, don't get me wrong, but for every three wonderful ones there's always one that tests your temper. The annoying thing is that they don't usually do anything to require this angry response and if you relay the story to an onlooker they will gasp at you in shock at your rudeness, but it grinds your gears nonetheless. Obviously this rudeness isn't overtly expressed, rather perhaps comes across in your ranting after, but it really has no reasonable explanation whatsoever.

In fact, I've found that my anger levels have risen and I find myself laughing out of the stupidity of it all. I get in debates about the production of milk in cows or why Africa is so poor (as you do) and find myself getting so wound up, so unnecessarily that it's laughable. Friends laugh too at my vexation.

I have found a solution though and for once it doesn't involve alcohol (which fuels an even more excitably irritated tone in me). No, as well as my two yoga sessions a week which are fantastic for a little workout, relaxation and a chance to reflect on things, especially those hilarious debates, I find that walking out in the fresh and open air helps wonders. There is nothing better than waking up in the morning and going for a brisk stroll to start your day on a high. Good company in a friend to chat with and a few cute dogs too will boost your happiness further, but regardless, ambling first thing kick starts your day with a buzz. 

This goes for real issues too, if ever you're struggling take a half hour break and take yourself on a walk. I've just returned from my morning saunter and I can assure you that it really is great for the soul. 

And for the record, unjustifiable irritation is not only found in women, men also suffer from PMS (permanent mood swing). End of.