Soooooo...we were issued a seven-day challenge at WBS this week: Give up Complaining for Seven Days! There is nothing quite as cheerful as a group of women...laughing. It was a bit of that "yeah right" nervous laugh we heard this past Wednesday.
And less than 12 hours later...I needed a point of clarification: If I grumble in my head, but refuse to verbalize is it complaining? And it just so happens that my little 'go-to' dictionary.com says "to grumble is to utter ill-natured complaints half to oneself". Yep. Nailed it.
And if I am to go by their definition of 'complain' - 1. To express dissatisfaction, pain, uneasiness, censure, resentment, or grief; find fault; 2. To tell of one's pains, ailments, etc; and 3. To make a formal accusation - well...it would appear that I have a wee bit of work to do.
In scrolling down this revelation, I came across the Antonym (Opposite for those of you, who like me, need a refresher in "English before I was 18"): Rejoice!
That is it! One word to turn that frown upside down - Rejoice! So, in my complete and utter defeat, I decided to claim three Rejoices for every (wink-wink) grumble.
1. Issue at work with someone not turning in their paperwork (see point of clarification):
1. Mmmmmmmmm.....coffee!
2. One more day to Friday!
3. My husband gets me!
2. Received a text (generalized to protect the innocent); Can you be in charge of this?...Great thank you so much! (all part of the same text).
1. Yum - My house totally smells like fresh baked cookies!
2. Squeezes on the best daughter and friend for making my house smell like fresh baked cookies!
3. New toothbrushes are the bomb!
3. Giant tractor with Giant tires flicking mud as I keep a safe driving distance behind it. My immediate response was: Really? - OMG - How many times a day do I say just that word and not even notice, nor give it credit for being a complaint (see dissatisfaction)?
1. Beautiful Sunrise!
2. First5 Devotion on trading your "bowl of beans" (if you do not have this app - go now!)
3. Love theHouse FM keeping me company on my morning drive!
4. Still hasn't turned in paperwork (point of clarification and complaint 1. that began my demise):
1. Mmmmmmmm.....coffee!
2. It is Friday!
3. My husband still gets me and supports (calling) me (out) in this 7 day quest of "good intentions"...
5. Me: This morning in sure taking its own sweet time
Husband: That was a reportable complaint
Me: No...that is an observation. (Oh alright!!)
1. It is 64 degrees outside - Welcome Fall - My Fav!
2. Chili Bowl for Lunch!
3. Co-worker back from vacation - thankful for a smile to greet me and safe travels for them to and from their journey.
And I am beyond thankful, seventy times seven times, for my fearless WBS leader for issuing this challenge. I may not ((cough-cough) will not) boast a 100% success rate, but I am completely and utterly examining every thought that hits my feeble human head and discerning whether or not it should be put out into the world.
Psalms 104:34 May all my thoughts be pleasing to Him, for I rejoice in the Lord.
Jen Hatmaker says "the hardest part of being human is the human part".
Just as we have co-workers, kiddos, spouses, drives to work, accountability, requests for assistance...we are ourselves co-workers, kiddos, spouses, drivers, accountables, and requestors. Our lives up until this very moment have shaped how we approach circumstances, responses, and daily human duties. I don't want to have any encounter where people's response to me is "Really?".
Not complaining, just observing...five more days seems like a LONG time! (Oh alright!!)
1. Thank you for reading - so overwhelmed by your support!
2. This is my 23rd Post - I flippin' love that number!
3. It is the weekend! Capture your thoughts and Rejoice!
4. BONUS - God is so very good to me...Really!
(Photo Courtesy of my Pinterest Addiction and beckythompson.com)
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