Wow, once again we have had a fire, which has caused structural damage. How upsetting, and how typical of California living. I have never been afraid of earthquakes, growing up in California, you learn that it is a part of life. But, now that I live in the Santa Monica Mountains, I am petrified of fires.
What does this have to do with complaining you ask? Well, I have noted an interesting trend to the aftermath of fires. If there is no structural damage, everyone is a hero and whew another bullet dodged. But, when there is structural damage, instantly finger pointing and blaming is done. Blaming is in a way, worse the complaining. I wonder does it help to blame? What does that do? Maybe it gives the blamer their 15 minutes of fame. Who knows.
The last fire that was close to me, some of the locals blamed the firefighter response. When a fire sweeps down a hillside and engulfs homes in less then 30 minutes from the time it was reported, what could the firefighters do? They did indeed save more houses then they lost and in my mind they were heroes. The complainer received their 15 minutes of fame, by complaining, then retracting their complaint. The firefighters put their life on the line every time and what do they get in response? Complaints and blaming.
The last fire, though not near my home, was near where I used to work and close to several friends homes. Another home was lost, so this time the complaint was that the city didn't clear their brush, thus it was the city's fault that the house burned. For those of you that don't live in this area, we are required to clear a certain percentage of brush around our homes to protect them. Normally we have until May 1st or June 1st to clear it. This year due to lack of rain, some areas are already dry. I wonder when the area near Beverly/Glen that burned, was due to be cleared? Probably not until later, yet due to someones complaint, someone might lose their job or at the least the city receives a black eye.
Again, where am I going with this? Just a way to show you that complaining may be more pervasive and damaging then we thought. By complaining about someone or something, do you ever stop to think that what you just said may effect someones job or life? Just a thought.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Friday, April 13, 2007
13 days into the challenge!
So how are you doing with this challenge?
I have used up all of my get out of jail free cards! I think we do complain more then we realise! The hardest thing is to decide if it is a "complaint" or a "stated" fact? I kept saying, this isn't a complaint, it is a fact. But, sometimes I believe that they are both! The best part of the challenge is by sharing that you are doing this challenge, your friends then kindly point out when you are complaining. (Mine have all done it in a nice way!)
So, how is your complaining on a scale of 1 - 10? I find mine gets closer to the 10 when I am in the city and trying to park or trying to find where I am suppose to be. Amazing how your patience just goes right out the window! Will this month's challenge make me a better person? Will it make you a better person? I don't know, but I do believe that by listening to how we talk, what we say and our body language, (I was all hunched over and tense, when I was trying to find a parking place!) we can control the outcome. By allowing yourself to complain, you can ruin your own day. Do you really think that the guy at the Post Office that wouldn't let you out, did it specifically to you? The guy that ran the red on a left turn, so you missed your light, did he do that on purpose, the one meter you found, was broken, was that against you? Yes, yes, yes..., I can hear you all say! Ok, I feel like that at times also, but I find that when I shift the way I think, change my mindset, and don't let things like that effect me, instead I try to make it an adventure, I am happier and more energetic.
So keep up the good work, take it one day at a time, give your self a little more time to get where you are suppose to be and force yourself to smile when instead you want to complain, and who knows, you might just have a great day!! Check out this article - http://ezinearticles.com/?Complain---Who-Me?--I-Am-Not-Complaining&id=512383
I have used up all of my get out of jail free cards! I think we do complain more then we realise! The hardest thing is to decide if it is a "complaint" or a "stated" fact? I kept saying, this isn't a complaint, it is a fact. But, sometimes I believe that they are both! The best part of the challenge is by sharing that you are doing this challenge, your friends then kindly point out when you are complaining. (Mine have all done it in a nice way!)
So, how is your complaining on a scale of 1 - 10? I find mine gets closer to the 10 when I am in the city and trying to park or trying to find where I am suppose to be. Amazing how your patience just goes right out the window! Will this month's challenge make me a better person? Will it make you a better person? I don't know, but I do believe that by listening to how we talk, what we say and our body language, (I was all hunched over and tense, when I was trying to find a parking place!) we can control the outcome. By allowing yourself to complain, you can ruin your own day. Do you really think that the guy at the Post Office that wouldn't let you out, did it specifically to you? The guy that ran the red on a left turn, so you missed your light, did he do that on purpose, the one meter you found, was broken, was that against you? Yes, yes, yes..., I can hear you all say! Ok, I feel like that at times also, but I find that when I shift the way I think, change my mindset, and don't let things like that effect me, instead I try to make it an adventure, I am happier and more energetic.
So keep up the good work, take it one day at a time, give your self a little more time to get where you are suppose to be and force yourself to smile when instead you want to complain, and who knows, you might just have a great day!! Check out this article - http://ezinearticles.com/?Complain---Who-Me?--I-Am-Not-Complaining&id=512383
Saturday, March 31, 2007
April 1st and this is no April Fools joke!
Welcome to the first "Monthly Challenge".
Where did this idea come from you ask?? Click here to see the why...So here we go, the first Monthly Challenge:
"No Complaining for 30 Days!"
And the RULES are........
1) You must follow the challenge for 30 days
2) Please post a comment on the blog, so you can get support and encouragement
3) Write in your journal, or the blog, or a scrap of paper, how proud of yourself you are every day!!!
4) Share on the Blog your creative ways of getting your point across with out complaining
5) Now the bonus for those that read this far..... You get 4 get out of jail free cards! You can complain 4 times and still remain in the challenge!
Post a comment, lets have fun and maybe we can change the world one person at a time!
Keep on dreaming!!!-
Susan Feder
Add a comment and "Take The Challenge!!!"
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