Recently I was visiting with some friends and, though I was having a great time, I must have felt frustrated by the weather, feeling tired, and everything else on my plate. Well, let me tell you that it didn’t go unnoticed. When I spoke up to quibble about some minor irritation, my friend pointed out that I’d been complaining about every little thing! Her comment took me aback, but I realized that my petty whines had made it seem like I was totally miserable. Not exactly good company, huh?
Inspired by that “wake up call” and a few bloggers that I’ve read about, I’m pledging to go complaint-free for a full week. Care to join me? Sometimes we don’t realize that letting little things getting under our skin and moaning about it makes us appear unhappy, unpleasant, and even rude. The neighbor is being too loud? If it’s not interrupting your sleep, let it slide. The restaurant is out of the dish you specifically came to eat? Try something else. You’re too busy? Take a deep breath, count to 10, and remember that some people don’t have jobs or families to keep them occupied.
I’m looking forward to biting my tongue, shrugging off those little irritations, and engaging in conversations that are more positive, upbeat, and meaningful. It’s a great way to focus on the moment and be grateful for the things that are going right, not the things that are going wrong.
Now, who’s with me?