Whiny, negative, pessimistic, irritable, and ungrateful. Any names come to mind? It’s almost a given that everyone knows at least one person who acts like this, and in this day and age, usually the majority of people reflect these traits. But why must everyone complain about their “terrible” life all of the time? Who knows. All I’m here to do is complain about complainers.
First off, we have it so good. You might be thinking ‘Here we go again, I’ve heard this a million times,’ but hear me out. The things we complain about the most are the things that other people are wishing they had. When you freak out when you don’t get Starbucks one morning, think about the millions of little kids wishing for just one sip of clean water. Do they sit around feeling sorry for themselves all day because they don’t have water to drink or food to eat? Many times they’re working 12 hour days at a factory or field, trying to raise money for their family. Does a quality education sound so bad now? People can be so ignorant and blinded to all the hurt in this world that they only focus on themselves, without even knowing that they do it. We think we deserve such and such and have a right to do whatever we want. Believe it or not, there are over seven billion other people in the world. We may think we are the only ones going through a tough time, but everyone has battles they fight, some bigger than others. “Other people have their own problems,” Maya Ablao (11) said, “they don’t need to worry about yours, too. Just be positive.”
It seems that those who go through the most are not the ones who complain the most. I could be wrong, but if you have time to whine and complain about something, then you usually have time to do something about it. And no, tweeting does not count as a solution. If you always feel the need to tell the whole world about your problems, maybe you should invest in a diary and learn to keep personal things personal.
The way you look at life is important and it’s a choice you make. When something bad happens, it’s okay to be upset and to talk to people about it to gain support. But a bad grade on a math test or a consequence of a personal choice is not a life crisis that you need to complain to everyone about.
Complaining isn’t just the comments that you make. It is looking at everything from a negative point of view, trying to find faults in things, yourself, or other people, sometimes in hope of sympathy. “Some people just want assurance or attention,” Katie Moon (11) said. Asking some close friends for advice about a problem you have is a lot different than complaining and seeking attention.
Whatever the case may be, open up your mind. Realize that other people are struggling with things as well. Let little things go. Be thankful for what you have and content with what you don’t have. Be mindful of others and what is going on in their lives. The fact that so many of us find time to complain shows just how blessed we really are.