I have a chip on my shoulder

I was trying to chill out tonight, trying to relax from a day with a fussy but amazing child and I was searching for random things on the Internet. I ended up on Wikipedia, reading about my defunct, beloved Montreal Expos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Expos). I was trying to figure out why I liked them so much, especially since baseball is not one of my favorite sports. As I read on, I got so angry reading about how the Expos were essentially ran out by Major League Baseball, especially Jeffrey Loria and Bud Selig, and I figured out my entry for my blog.
I have been told by numerous friends, not-so-much friends, family members, and employers that I walk with a chip on my shoulder. When I was a younger adult, I fought that perception and just figured they were out to get me! I did not like the negative connotation of those words and it really pissed me off. I blamed others for this chip, that they put it there, that they are the ones who just don't understand. I was fighting the good fight, alone, with no allies, and figured I could only count on myself. The Lone Wolf!
As I grew older, I started to recognize some truth to that statement. After all, I am a Quebecois and I always felt English Canada hated us and tried to put us down. I needed to carry this chip for our people and I was proud to be a Quebecois. So why wouldn't I? I considered my first language to be French and my family was all French, except for my Dad. And he always told me to be proud and always remember where you came from. So that chip was justified. But what about other chips?
It took me a while to figure those out. My first indication that this chip needed to be moderated was when I almost got fired from a job. The reason? I stood up for what I believed but got written up for it. And I was right! To this day, I know I was right...however that chip is really small nowadays...but I learned from that experience.
When I had to deal with the INS to come to this country, there was mountain of paperwork, tons of conditions, and many loopholes. Why were they making it so hard? They didn't want me to be here? I was a good citizen and love this country, what is their problem? That chip is now small too.
How did I take care of this? I had to come to a few conclusions: First a chip on your shoulder is not a bad thing...nor is it a good thing...it is what you do with it. If you are just angry and draw paranoia from it, it will destroy many things in your life...and at the end of the day, yourself. It is destructive to hold on to it so tight that you cannot accomplish anything else in your life. I also firmly believe that if you do not have any chips on your shoulder, you will slowly destroy yourself.
The chips that you carry on your shoulder are usually related to your beliefs. I believe that are things that are wrong in life: abusing power, inequality, not getting a second chance, discrimination, not being loyal, dishonesty...OK that is just a few. If you feel that your beliefs are not being respected, you must have enough guts to stand up for them. So my chips have taught me that you need them but not have them get in the way. Not always easy to do but if you say what you mean and mean what you say, at some point, people will respect you. And for those who don't? Do you really need them in your life?