I Need To Vent!

I need to vent!!!

Those are four words that can save your family, friends and the occasional random stranger a lot of grief if you are looking to unload a lot of emotion in a very short amount of time.  Its a special little free pass that lets all parties involved step out of the situation and not feel the need to be invested in whats about to be said.

We all know what these words mean...stand back and nod your head in agreement while I rant about whatever it is that has me on the verge of exploding and imploding all at the same time. 

These words are only valid if they are said first...  If you start to unload or flip out or whatever it is that you need to do and 10 minutes into it you say, "I just need to vent." It usually doesn't count any more.  If you don't say these words before you start you might as well not say them at all...they lose their magic.

When we unload on someone, normally we are pushing a boat load of emotion, typically negative, onto the person that is listening.  Telling them you need to vent puts up some sort of emotional screen, some type of special protective shield that lets the listener step outside of the situation and not absorb the emotion that you are pushing onto them.

So when the moment comes when you need to get it all out...be considerate to the person in your path...think before you speak...