On complaining

I've just read the Sunday magazine in one of the Sunday papers and there is an interesting article on complaining. The author writes about trying not to complain about things for 21 days. Apparently there have been wristbands made, such that you have to swap which wrist it's on, every time you complain. While you can complain about things that are genuinely complaint-worthy, it is the little things that aren't allowed.

Like complaining about trains, how they are late, how they have too many people on them, and so on. Complaining about other people, possibly categorised as gossip is also in the not-allowed basket. I know a fair few people would find this difficult. I know I'd find it difficult, to some extent, because I do complain at times. But I do notice that I do, because I see it other people and the idea that I don't like it in other people reflects on me.

I think I'd put "talking unnecessarily" into all of this too. There are some things in life that don't require comment. Like the traffic, for instant. Yes, there is a traffic jam. Yes, that is a big truck. No, that person can't drive very well. It's all noise pollution to me, at times. I'm complaining, just by saying that.

I find that I do think about what I say more, these days. If what I'm saying is unlikely to change anything, or is not informative, then it's probably best not to say it.