Coping with Anger

Few people have been more victimized by resentments than we alcoholics. A burst of temper could spoil a day, and a well-nursed grudge could make us miserably ineffective. Nor were we ever skillful in separating justified from unjustified anger. As we saw it, our wrath was always justified. Anger, that occasional luxury of more balanced people, could keep us on an emotional jag indefinitely. These "dry benders" often led straight to the bottle.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, Page 90

Nothing pays off like restraint of tongue and pen. We must avoid quick-tempered criticism, furious power-driven argument, sulking, and silent scorn. These are emotional booby traps baited with pride and vengefulness. When we are tempted by the bait, we should train ourselves to step back and think. We can neither think nor act to good purpose until the habit of self-restraint has become automatic.
TWELVE STEPS AND TWELVE TRADITIONS, Page 91

I've always been a pretty laid-back guy. However, there were countless times during my drinking years that I lost my temper. Some might say I had a short temper. With a much greater clarity of mind (in sobriety) and through my attempts to live according to the Steps of AA and other "tools" I have learned in sobriety, I have not "lost it" since the day I stopped drinking. I really can't say that I've even been angry; disappointed, yes, but not really angry at anything, anyone or myself.

TODAY, I KNOW THAT I CANNOT BE PERFECT.
BUT I CAN BE EXCELLENT.