WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THE MAD THAT YOU FEEL?
by Fred M. Rogers, 1968

What do you do with the mad that you feel,
When you feel so mad you could bite?
When the whole wide world seems oh, so wrong,
And nothing you do seems very right?

What do you do?  Do you punch a bag?
Do you pound some clay or some dough?
Do you round up some friends for a game of tag?
Or see how fast you can go?

It’s great to be able to stop
When you’ve planned a thing that’s wrong,
And be able to do something else instead,
And think this song:

I can stop when I want to,
Can stop when I wish.
I can stop, stop, stop any time.
And what a good feeling to feel like this,
And know that the feeling is really mine.
Know that there’s something deep inside
That helps us become what we can.
For a girl can be someday a woman
And a boy can be someday a man.


People are so angry these days.  Which is frightening and upsetting.  But I sure can relate, because I’m pretty angry, myself. 

Anger is valid.  It’s human.  Anger can arise from hearts full of care and love.

But how to hold it?  As Mr. Rogers asked, “What do you do with the mad that you feel?”  He doesn’t say, “Get over it.”  He doesn’t say, “Bottle it up and pretend to be happy.”  

He cautions against lashing out in harmful or misdirected ways, of course.  But it is necessary to be able to acknowledge our authentic emotions in order to choose how/where/when/if to act upon them.  

1. Stop, pause.   
2. Remember who we are and who we want to be.
3. Proceed with integrity, in alignment with our intentions and purposes.

Even angry.  Even scared.  Even confused.  

Aristotle said it like this:  “Anybody can become angry — that is easy.  But to be angry at the right person, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and in the right way — that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy.”

Let me offer that it is, in fact, within everybody’s power.  But it takes practice.

And I’m so grateful that we get to practice together, my friends.  See you this Sunday, September 14, 10:00am at q-Staff Theatre.  With the divine Patty Stephens.  XO, Drew

©2025 Drew Groves