Complaining

A few years ago I read an article in Real Simple that talked about complaining. I don't want to be a complainer, so I read the article to my husband and we discussed it, as well as our complaints. I can't say I have stopped complaining, but I am trying. So here are the things the article discussed that I am trying to stop complaining about:

1. The weather - everyone who can hear you is dealing with the same weather, when its hot we want it cold, when its cold we want it hot. I grew up in California, the weather was perfect, but we always complained about the coastal wind. When I go back now I love that coastal breeze. My husband and I agreed that since we like the warm better than the cold, we would never again complain on a hot day. After all, Winter is always just around the corner.

2. Traffic - again everyone deals with it. And if you are in the thick of it, so are the people listening to you complain. I don't like traffic and I avoid it. My husband usually works odd hours and doesn't hit the commuter crowd, but occasionally he can't avoid it. So when he gets home on those days I try not to complain about his lateness, after all he was the one sitting in the immovable throng. It could be worse.

3. Being busy - is it really so bad to be busy. I am really bad about this one. I think I thrive on busyness, and while I think I complain about being busy to excuse my scatter brain, I don't want it to come across as bragging. Yes, my life is busy and truthfully, I like it that way.

4. Tired - too relative, most of us are tired. Sometimes I find this becomes my easy answer to "How are you?" I think I use tired as an excuse for forgetfulness too. There are times when I think, "If I pass out in public will they call an ambulance? And if they do does that mean I get to sleep at a hospital?" Realistically I know that sleeping in a hospital isn't restful, but tired plays tricks on us. I'm tired, you are probably tired, none of us gets enough sleep. Yes, I AM TIRED, but you don't need to hear about it. I'm giving this complaint up. One time I fell asleep standing up,doing the dishes, it has been worse.

5. Fat - if you're not really, then complaining about it is insulting and if you are, then you risk an uncomfortable silence that can be hurtful. The reality is I want my twenty-two-year-old body back, but I don't want to be twenty-two again. I like who I am now. I feel good, I'm comfortable with who I am, I'm trying to be better in many ways. This is one three-letter word I am tossing out of my vocabulary, for my sake and the sake of my daughters.