RSS Thinking Out Loud: Mustn’t complain, eh?
Filed in Thinking Out Loud
Talk to a Brit long enough, and you’ll hear her say that she mustn’t complain. Her husband might have just left her, her doctor might have told her to lose two stone or she risks a coronary, and she might have had to shovel two feet of snow before slithering to work that morning–but still, she’ll say it. It’s almost pathological.
Thing is, she might say that, but she’s still thinking grumbling, repressed thoughts.
One thing I have observed at work is people’s propensity for grumbling. There is always something to grumble about, if you look hard enough. Whether it’s that we don’t like our hours, or we wish we were doing paints instead of frames, or we can’t find a ladder–there’s always something. I’ve caught myself going that route; it seems like a group mentality kind of thing. I don’t like it, I have noticed it in myself, and I’m going to stop it.
Of course, the opposite of a grumbler is a chirper–somebody who looks on the bright side no matter what. These people are just as annoying, but don’t tend to get the same following as grumblers. Sometimes, it’s better to acknowledge that things have reached the approximate level of the Dead Sea, and then move on instead of pretending that things really are okay.
But, back to the topic at hand. I’m going to try to keep my grumbles to myself. I don’t need the negativity and nobody needs it from me. The best times we’ve had when we’ve been laughing ourselves silly, so I’m going to see what I can find to laugh about. If someone tries to infect me with grumble, I will don my teflon shoulders and let it slide off with a shrug. Persistent grumblers usually get it after a while. I don’t want to be a grumble bucket.
Besides, all I have to do is think about the other grumble bucket in my life, JR the cat, and I’ll burst out laughing. He does the most wonderful, ineffectual grumbles and growls when we cause him havoc, which is often.
Mustn’t complain, eh?
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2 Comments, Comment or Ping
beautyredefined
It’s far too easy to fall into a grumbling mood, and I wish I didn’t do it so often. On the other hand, it can be very healthy to let your rants and grumbles out every now and then, and if you find yourself needing to vent, I’ll go ahead and listen!
Sep 10th, 2007
Linda R. Moore
Yeah, and it seems to be one of those things that is catching, too. I am sure all will be well. Sooner or later I’m going to start saying, “Oh, quit whining” to some of my coworkers and see which of them end up talking to me afterwards. ;)
Sep 15th, 2007
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