The Showtime list went up last Thursday, and it looks like Martha and I both have Showtime on the brain.

[For those of you who don’t know, Showtime is Lawrence High’s variety show where students audition songs in various groups.]

Every year when the list is posted, cacophony ensues. First come grunts and shuffling feet, pushing to see the list first, and then comes wave of elated screams, barely audible whispers, and silent tears.

Inside this cornocopia of emotions, it’s hard to know how to behave. Is it okay to express happiness when people around you are upset? Is it okay to feel frustrated when others are elated?

The answer is yes…sort of.

It’s always been my rule to allow myself an intial reaction, but afterword, control my emotions in front of people. Of course, once I’m in the car, I can groan and tear-up to my heart’s desire. But while I’m in a room with other people, I make it a point to give congratulations where they are due. After all, we all worked really hard to get to this point, and from there on, it was subjective.

Graciousness is a challenging virtue to upkeep, especially when you’re angry, but it’s probably one of the most important. How we behave in adversity tells a lot about who we are.