I'm debating putting some of this on Facebook to counteract all lot of the asshattery that goes on there.
What occurred to me the other day is that as a rule, we complain TOO much. Entirely TOO much.
I work in local government and everyday the fellow employees are bombarded with people's complaints. We listen to people literally lose their shit over a $0.25 bill, over losing a garbage can lid, over grass that grows too high, over leaves that fall on their property, over plastic flowers planted in a neighbor's yard, over every single penny spent to improve the quality of life in our town. Let me tell you, this shit gets old fast.
Through most of it I just smile and nod and try to commiserate, and I will continue to do so because I discovered something I'm loathe to admit publicly - I like my job. And, believe it or not, I actually like people - most of them, even sometimes the ones who complain about every little thing that comes down the pike.
But what I realized recently is that as a community, as a country as a race, we need to calm down and get over ourselves. As a rule - we are VERY LUCKY. We live in a free country. Not the only free country and maybe not even the best free country, but a free country. Our children can attend school - boys and GIRLS - in some religiously run countries that's not allowed. A lot of those old religions like people, especially women, to be ignorant because then they're easier to control. We recognize the stupidity of that here and we provide a means for out kids to be educated - granted sometimes barely, but at least we try.
We have access to medical care. Sure the medical system in American is a class A JOKE. I hate doctors. I hate the medical industry and Big Pharma - but at least I can go to a doctor if I decide I need one, and I can get medication if I'm sick.
Taxes are high. But we have people who pick up our garbage for us, who plow the snow off our streets and who care enough to test the quality of the water, fix the electricity when storms knock it out, patch water pipes that burst, clear sewer clogs, and respond to our calls for help with police officers or ambulance workers or firefighters - many of whom are VOLUNTEERS.
We have the right to vote and the right not to if we don't want to. We have the right to complain about the government and not wake up in jail for it. We have paved streets, cars in our driveways and cable TV.
Sure NOTHING is perfect. Sure EVERYTHING could be better - but for heaven's sake people, don't ever forget that everything could be a lot WORSE too. And there are places in this world where it is worse for the people who live there. A lot worse.
So my advice to everyone is, take a minute and be freakin' THANKFUL for what you have instead of constantly moaning about what you don't.
I guarantee if you do that, you'll actually be a lot happier and a lot healthier. Give it a try.
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