An Exclamation of Exasperation

A wise man once said,

 I suppose it goes without saying that negative speaking so often flows from negative thinking, including negative thinking...we speak—or at least think—critically of ourselves, and before long that is how we see everyone and everything. No sunshine, no roses, no promise of hope or happiness. Before long we and everybody around us are miserable.

Tonight I was feeling really annoyed.  I was going to write this great blog venting my frustrations about my brother and make some clever remark about how it's no wonder that "brother" is only one letter away from "bother."  I was miffed about how my brother is constantly using me as a punching bag or blowing stank-breath into my face.  I was more than ready to rant about the way his actions often cause me to be the real Eeyore of the party and probably portray myself as a rather grumpy person.  Honestly, the more I thought about it, the more annoyed I became.  Can you believe it?  Just sitting in front of the computer and thinking about complaining was irking me.  Then I just had to sit there and laugh at myself.  Why was I getting so worked up about nothing?  I really love my brother.  There's no question about it. And he loves me.  When it boils down to it, he's just a boy.  What I think is annoying is probably just his way of getting my attention.  So that led me to ponder about the power of negativity, and the power of positivity.

We've all heard a thousand times about how a little bit of kindness goes a long way.  We've heard it our whole lives.  I really think the same can be applied to negativity.  I think it goes without saying that no one likes to be around the Oscar-the-Grouches of the party.  It makes sense that the positive, happy people attract us. But yet, we have this tendency to complain.  At least I do. 

I think there's a lot to be said about this habit that we humans possess.  It's not necessarily that we're all Negative Nancy's.  I think most of us aren't.  But I've noticed in my interactions with people that we tend to talk about and focus on the negative aspects of our lives.  When a conversation is started with someone about how our day is going or how we're doing, how often do we say, "Oh, yeah, I'm so exhausted.  Work's a killer" or find some other small downer of a comment.  When talking to my peers at college it's humorous how people will almost compete when updating each other other on their workloads and burdens.  I can't name how many times I've sat and listened as one person has just finished saying how they're busy studying for a test and then the next person jumps in to say, "Yeah well I've got five hundred tests, twenty essays, six hours of homework, and a lab report all due tomorrow." 

I don't think we're always like that, but I do think it's interesting how often we complain.   I find that when I start thinking about all the challenges I'm facing it's hard to stop.  Eventually it gets to the point that when I'm having just a generally good day I have to immediately start looking for something that's wrong.  Sooner or later "there are no roses".  It's like there always has to be some kind of obstacle we're facing or a pile of things we have to get accomplished.  Well, I think that's just the definition of life: work. hardships. challenges. obstacles.  The list is endless, but it's just life.  So, instead of focusing on those things, why not focus on all of the blessings, wonders and funny moments of life instead?  I'm sure by now it's clear that complaining and incessant moaning is contagious and habit forming, so why not let it be cheering and incessant laughing? 

I've heard the phrase "overly optimistic" before, but in my opinion, there's no such thing.  What's wrong with being happy-go-lucky?  Absolutley nothing.  When someone asks you how you're doing, why not say, "Fantastic!"?  It's amazing that by simply looking at a picture of frowning people you can start feeling down and how just the opposite is true as well.  Looking at this picture to the right makes me want to leap for joy too! Even certain words can elicit positivity.  For example, "What a beautiful morning! Nothing beats a breezy sun-filled day!"  Still more incredible is the wonderful phenomenon that is a smile.  Smiling is contagious.  It takes 17 muscles and 2 seconds to start an epidemic.  Neat huh? So....even though I wanted to do the whole "woe is me" shindig, I decided against it.  Because, honestly, no one wants to read that.  And I wouldn't want anyone to.  You can't start seeing how green the grass is on the side you're standing on until you stop looking at the other side.  So, I'm going to get off my soap box now.  I know I'm probably the queen of complaints, but I'm setting a goal to be more....I dunno....friendly? I guess that's another way of putting it.  Anyways...yay life. I hope your day is absolutely, positively, excellent!