How often do you complain? How often do you have to listen to other’s complaining?
image from 4.bp.blogspot.com
Everywhere I turn someone has something to complain about. Sometimes it is little, such as they did not want to wake up this morning. Sometimes it is big, such as the world is out to get them.
I am so full of other peoples complaints. I was unaware that I carried around an invisible complaint box everywhere I went. I too have a life and struggles. It never fails that who ever is complaining, never asks me how I am doing.
Maybe you too have been carrying around said box. I feel your pain.
It is time we fought back. And here is how we will start.
1. Respond with: how thankful you are that you have clean drinking water, do not have cancer, or any other extreme example pointing out how petty they are being.
2. Respond with: talk to the hand because the face ain’t listening. I did this to my friends in middle school all the time and it totally worked.
3. Respond with: Gosh, your life is so terrible, does anything good every happen to you?
4. Respond with: Oh I’m sorry were you talking to me? I was busy thinking about how awesome my life is.
5. If all else fails respond with: Those goddamn (insert liberal, conservative, etc depending on the person) are ruining america! and storm off.
nevercontrary 
No complaints here. So, how are you doing?
I am doing wonderful, thank you 🙂 How are you?
Great. It’s almost bedtime which means I can settle in with a good book before I drift off to dreamland.
Nope, no complaints here:)
🙂
I think you are making such a good point. I am finding that the less I complain the better I feel. Sure there are times we all need a good venting session, but most of the time it does minimal good. And lately I have realized that while yes sometimes my life is difficult, there are people who have it so much worse than I do
I wholeheartedly agree. The more I focus on the positive the better I feel.
I love this post, but OY! I have so much to kvetch about:)
I think we ought to write our complaints and nail them to the doors of the FRC. Just like the first lutheran did to the catholic church.
I love #3 and #4! Especially #4…which you could actually say while practicing your New Jersey accent (doing your best DeNiro), “You talkin’ to ME?” You have to squint really hard while doing this so you look like a tough guy/girl. Prison tats would add to the menacing attitude. You might actually scare the complaints out of said person. Just a thought….Sandy
The accent will totally take this to the next level.
Honestly, I rarely if ever complain.. But boy do I hear so many others and I have to bite my tongue sometimes..Arghhh!!
I know the feeling.
Reblogged this on dirt n kids and commented:
“Oh, I’m sorry, were you talking to me? I was busy thinking about how awesome my life is.” I prefer to avoid chronic complainers, but thanks to NeverContrary, I now have a nice retort — simple and precise. And, yes, my husband has been instructed to use it on me too (he hears me complain often when I’m in my crappy, er, uh…wonderful kitchen).
Thanks for the reblog!!!
Your posts are golden, girl. Keep it up. 🙂
Thanks Shannon. Your blog is pretty sweet as well.
I’m gonna try “does anything good ever happen to you?” Thanks!
I have yet to try it, but I think it will have quite the effect.
Pingback: Complaining — A Simple Response « dirt n kids
This is wonderful. It is challenging to find a way around people who are often negative. I’ve tried many things through the years. Though I try to look on the bright side and point out the good things when others gripe, it’s funny when they say, “Ugh, you are always so positive!”
I do like “does anything good ever happen to you?” also.
What a wonderful thing to be called. Too positive. That is impressive.
Makes me worried if I ever complained to you! haha… at least I never got the “talk to the hand” response…
I think you only complained about boys. lol.
How gross! The worst part is, I’m pretty sure that’s how it was my whole adolescent/adult life. What a waste of time.
Oh nothing is a waste oh time because it helps you become who you were meant to be.
Emotional Vampires…sucking the life out of all they encounter.
oohhh. I like that term. stealing that one.
I found it in an Oprah magazine YEARS ago…clearly they have been roaming the earth for some time now.
Never contrary I am never cease to be amazed at how whenever I read your comments on life I am enthralled and yet they are so simple and so resolute! How is the Tae Kwon Do? Would you believe it there are still about twelve beautiful red flowers on my Camelia!!!?
You are so lucky to have such amazing flowers. Thank you so much for your kind words.
Thank you they came with the house a year ago but I really only gave them attention this years because of Louisiana! You have a knack with words and observations. A book would succeed!
OMG, Thank you so much for this!!! It’s so true!!! My life is amazing and so if your’s! Love your suggestions!!!
Thanks. I am glad your life rocks!
Empathy and perspective can sometimes be in disturbingly short supply. Great tools for dealing with tools.
Lol. Love it.
I shall try # 3! It will be our social experiment..lol
Oh social experiments, good times.
Good topic for a post! I listen to more than my fair share of complaining with my clients. A standard response of mine is “So how do you plan to handle that?”
I like that one.
Pingback: Favorite posts from this year #1 | nevercontrary
Pingback: Favorite posts from this year #1 | nevercontrary
Can’t wait to try out suggestion #4. Thanks for the post!
Glad you enjoyed it!