Um, not me. But after seeing a news story about a new campaign to stop complaining I got to thinking about my friends. I don’t have many friends who complain. And truth be known, and this is brutal, if a co-worker or acquaintance complains a lot, I just won’t spend time with them. Shocked? You shouldn’t be. Our bodies and minds are probably affected by negativity more than we’ll ever know in our lifetime. Life is too short to spend time with people who bring you down.
This MSNBC article sez, "Experts disagree about whether suppressing complaints is good for one’s mental health. “If people don’t need to complain, don’t want to, then great,” said Barbara Held, a psychologist and author of the book, “Stop Smiling, Start Kvetching.” “But if they do, there are ways to do it more productively and more beneficially and what’s wrong with that?”
I do most of my kvetching while in the car. But I have taken steps to reduce my time on the road by moving within a mile of my work, moving my parents close to me, helping my daughter find a house close to us, and so on. The rest is about me being cognizant that I am complaining. Maybe I need one of these purple bands?
However, I have been told by some co-works through the years such things as, "How come you’re always smiling." or "Why are you always so happy." Hmm… don’t know and don’t care. It’s probably genetic, but I’m gonna ride this happy train as long as I can.
The Bis Key Chronicles 
The ‘happy train’ sound like the right mode of transportation, I hope you never reach your destination. Seriously, we are only as happy as we choose to be and you have chosen to be happy. That is great!
Love that attitude and your declaration.
I agree with you, it is hard to be around negative complaining people. We all kvetch sometimes but when it’s a way of life then I think you have to look closer at what "really ails" the person.
I’m on the fence on this one. Certainly a lot of negativeness can drive one crazy. It just doesn’t feel good. But the idea that you can’t complain seems silly too, a bit PollyAnna?
There’s no cosmic need to avoid complaining and some awful, bitter people live long lives, too. Go figure.
I think, like in AA, first you have to admit that you have problem, without solution, without self-abuse, without judgment whenever possible.
But, heh? Maybe it’s an Eas Coas thing.
If we wouldn’t complain, we wouldn’t be Dutch – i think it is also pretty annoying though. I try not to, but it is hard sometimes. Being as positive as you, that is something i aim for!
love, daphne
I complain too much at work. Maybe they have one of those bracelets that can give you electroshock therapy while at the same time looking cute?
Great post..
I agree complaining is so negative, I don’t tend to do too much of it
myself.Sometimes when folks complain they are just venting getting their
frustration out in words .. I simply let them unless it continues over
and over. Sometimes there is nothing to be done but walk away.
Usually happiness evokes a happier attitude in others.
Barb
Are you familiar with the "Messages in Water" study with Masaru Emoto? He’s been studying the effect of negative and positive emotions on water crystals. For example, he will show a picture of a frozen water crystal that has been shown/told emotions of love and caring, happy things like that, and the picture of the crystal is very symmetrical, and even looking, like a snowflake. Then it’ll show the opposite, like a water crystal that was shown hate, envy, negatives like that, and the crystal looks all broken up and scrambled. It’s very fascinating, and shows how much the water in our own bodies can be affected by the attitudes of others.