I LOVE TO COMPLAIN!!

I LOVE TO COMPLAIN!! As my friends Linda Shafran and Teresa Krazsinski are often wont to comment, “Kathy is not happy unless there is a crisis or she is complaining.” So imagine my shock and disdain upon reading that the city of Galesburg, Illinois has designated today, (Wednesday, November 25th) as "No Complaint Day." Well, I must complain about the stupidity of the Galesburg City Council for wasting precious government time on passing such a stupid ordinance.

The Associated Press story says, “Mayor Sal Garza says a resident brought the idea to him. He says she was tired of the negativity about the economy, unemployment and other issues. Garza says a positive attitude could help the city foster future economic development. He says businesses aren't interested in visiting a "cesspool of negativity." He says they're interested in locating in communities that are positive about the future. But Garza says the day is mainly designed to help residents reflect on the good things in their lives, such as friends and family. That's partially why it falls on the day before Thanksgiving.”

One can “reflect on the good things in their lives,” and yet still be able to complain about the bad things. The two have nothing to do with each other. According to the web site http://www.complaintfreeworld.org/, the average person complains 15-30 times a day. I don’t agree with that because, even I, a world class complainer, does not complain that much! A Compliant free World, Inc. is a non-profit, non-religious 501c3 organization which provides Complaint Free purple bracelets and other materials to help people affect positive change in their lives by becoming complaint free. Why would someone want to become complaint free? It is fun to complain! According to Will Bowen, Lead Minister of the One Community Spiritual Center in Kansas City, MO., and the founder of this organization, “people should wear purple plastic bracelets to monitor their success at eradicating complaining from their lives.” According to Bowen nearly 6 million purple Complaint Free bracelets have been sent to people in more than 106 countries. The purpose of the purple bracelet is to remind people not to complain. Scientists believe it takes 21 days to form a new habit and complaining is habitual for most of us. Wearing the bracelet is a reminder to be positive. Here are Bowen’s suggested rules:

1. Begin to wear the bracelet, on either wrist

2. When you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing (it’s ok, everyone does) move the bracelet to the other arm and begin again.

3. If you hear someone else who is wearing a bracelet complain, you may point out their need to switch the bracelet to the other arm; BUT if you’re going to do this, you must move your bracelet first!

4. Stay with it. It may take many months but when you reach 21 days you will find that your entire life is happier, more loving and more enjoyable.

My life would not be more loving and enjoyable if I stopped complaining. My life would become tense, stressed, nervous, anxious and panicky if I could not express my frustration with things that were going wrong. If I could not complain and let sales people, limo drivers, waiters, and the whole world know what I am mad about, how would they know what they need to correct?

What do I want to complain about today? I want to rant that according to Indian-American designer Naeem Khan the "Indian, chic, simple but very glamorous" that he designed for Michelle Obama to wear at the President’s first State Dinner, took 40 people three weeks to create in India. That translates into more than 1,000 hours of sewing time. Even at child labor wages, the salaries for that much work would total thousand and thousands of dollars. If Nancy Regan had worn a dress that required the work of 40 seamstresses, the media would have been castigating her as exhibiting “Republican Over-Indulgence.” But a Democratic First Lady can wear whatever she wants and just be called, “beautiful.”

So as one stuffs their face with turkey and dressing on Thursday and says “Thanks” for being with family and friends, remember to tell the truth and whine when the gravy is lumpy! How else will the cook know if you don’t complain?