Never Make A Decision When You're "Hangry"

Copyright: bowie15 / 123RF Stock Photo

I'll bet a lot of you are wondering what the word "hangry" means.  Well, in the Urban Dictionary it is defined as:

Hangry

"When you are so hungry that your lack of food causes you to become angry, frustrated or both."

I was reminded of that term today, because I was starving and I was reading through an email from a colleague who I work with on occasion.  I was not going to be able to attend a conference and he sent an email to our account contacts stating he would attend in my place, but he referred to me as "your regular business consultant". I was hungry, and basically pissed off that he referred to me as "your regular business consultant". Why didn't he refer to me by name or thank me for the opportunity.  I was fuming and yet wondering "Why am I so upset"?  He'd been gracious and especially grateful when I'd spoken to him over the phone, but just because he didn't refer to me directly in the email, I was swearing like a victim of Tourette Syndrome.

I was very, very, very, "hangry".

I picked up my iPhone to call him and curse his good name I was so mad. In fact, I was even practicing saying things to myself in the car, like a crazy person, before I called him.

"Listen you mother f#$king jerk!  I throw you a bone and your sorry a$$ doesn't even say thank you!"

"I just read your email to MY CONTACTS and I have two words for you....DEAD MAN."

"If you don't rewrite that email you just sent out, I'll tell all your customers you're a furry."

"Regular business consultant?  I'm a helluva lot better consultant than you are, you stupid a-hole"

My mind was just seething with rage, and I was swearing like a mental patient in the car.  I saw a fast food place and pulled into the drive through because it was empty and I was famished.  Still feeling angry I placed an order for something horrible unhealthy but at that point I didn't care.  I got the order, took a few bites of a burger while I was driving and still swearing.  Yes that's right, swearing to myself like a drunken sailor, and eating food like I had the marijuana munchies! I think pieces of food were even falling out of my mouth.  As I was finishing the burger, I started to feel much better and got ready to call my fellow consultant back.  I was going to belittle him and give him a piece of my mind. But suddenly, I wasn't feeling that horrible hatred towards him anymore. 

As I was dialing the phone, I noticed he was actually calling me. I answered the phone immediately.

"Hi there!  I was just about to call you.", I said.

"Was it about the email?"

" Well yes.  It was."

" Yeah sorry about that, I didn't refer to you by name.  I was at the airport and we were boarding and I didn't want to misspell your name or anything and be even more embarrassed so I just went with the business consultant thing.  I'll send a proper email later."

" Yeah, I was wondering why you didn't mention my name."

" Just being too cautious. I really want to thank you for the opportunity and I appreciate you letting me fill in.  I think I'll meet some good contacts at this conference."

" You're welcome.  Best of luck and let me know how it goes."

" Will do thanks again."

We both hung up and I wondered what would have happened if he had called me thirty minutes earlier, when I was "hangry".  The conversation might have been vastly different. 

I will make sure in the future I never make a decision when I'm tired, sick, or especially "hangry".

A man's got to know his limitations...