I've come to the realization that negativity is like some sort of strange
disease that spreads with words, faster than actions. People with a poor outlook on life or deficient
disposition spread it faster than anyone else. Whine, whine, whine; bitch, bitch, bitch; moan, moan,
moan. We all have hard times. That's almost a cliché,
but it's true. There is absolutely nothing new out there to
complain about, even this. It's all been said and done to someone
before, at one time or another, and in more interesting ways, too. Just once I'd like to have someone catch
me flat-footed.
"My arm dropped off yesterday because of my job at the power plant- too much radiation in one day, I guess. Too bad I get
paid in pecans, or I'd be able to afford hiring a doctor
to reattach it."
If you're going to complain to me, at least surprise
me. Tell me how your ex-girlfriend dropped you so she could have one lustful,
sordid night with Earnest Borgnine or Roseanne Barr. But don't be trite,
either. If I wanted trite and synthetic, I'd watch Jerry Springer for a
month- then my cup runneth over (why do people say "runneth" instead
of "runs?" Don't pretend to me that it's some homage to Biblical
literature- there's too many Jim Bakers out there for that
to hold any water).
I really don't mind people coming to me with their problems. Really. I mean,
everybody has problems. So hearing about
someone else's woe is only par for the course. What bothers me is that 90%
of those people who complain do so as if their troubles are unique. Hitler
hated his mom; Nietzsche had a bone or two to pick with God; J.P. Morgan
hated people in general. History is rife with common problems. You don't have
to look very far, either. Napoleon contracted syphilis; Columbus was thought
a fool by his own men (and nearly everyone else- including Queen Isabelle of
Spain); DaVinci was largely ignored during his life; Nostradomus (if you
believe in him, which I personally don't) was denounced as a heretic and wizard
for his visions and locked away in a remote monastery). Ad naseum. You
think you got the shitty end of the stick from your teacher? Big deal! So
did Einstein- Nikolai Tesla, too.
Don't misunderstand me; we humans need to complain. It's as natural
a reaction as saying "I'm fine" when someone asks how you are, even
when you aren't. It's knee-jerk response. But to act like you're the
only one? Pish-tosh! You are unique, your problems aren't.
You've seen one wreck, you've seen 'em all. Another cliché, I know, but
we're all human wrecks. It's the train wrecks that
make the papers, but twisted metal is twisted metal,
no matter who or what was involved. Learn to see past the wreckage and look
at it for what it is: life.
My advice on how to change your perspective: Stop complaining about things
that we've already heard about a hundred times in different variations. Stop
wasting your breath and our time; we've heard it already! (even this)