聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 With the cooler weather coming in, flu season is fast approaching and many people are looking to get their annual shots to ward off potential illness. As terrible as viral infections may be, there is a much more insidious bug out there and, unfortunately, there is no vaccination to prevent its spread. This virus does not threaten our physical health but is no less damaging to our general well-being.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I am referring to the contagious effects of being in the company of complainers. Spend enough time with these folks and a case of the grumbles is sure to follow. Symptoms often include excessive whining, pouting, negative head shaking, tunnel vision, agitation, angry outbursts and even weepiness.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Complainers tend to be an unhappy lot who focus on the shortcomings of every situation. 聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 They find fault when none exists and can suck the joy out of a room faster than a Hoover vacuum cleaner.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I have seen the effects inflicted by compulsive complainers on others, particularly on the young.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Several years ago I accompanied a group of students and a few adults on a trip to Italy. We arrived in Naples after a full day of sightseeing and a long bus ride through some treacherous mountainous terrain. We were hungry and we were tired (which are conditions suitable to promoting snivelling). When a less-than-appetizing meal was placed before us, the grumblings began almost immediately and grew from there.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Later, when we checked into our assigned rooms, the rumblings turned into some very vocal carping and even tears (mostly from the adults), which spread like wildfire among the group members. Soon almost everyone was decrying the terrible accommodations which they would have to endure for one entire night! The interesting thing was that some of the students didn鈥檛 realize that they should be upset until the complainers told them so. This was the contagious power of complaining!
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 There鈥檚 no denying that the rooms did not live up to the standards that we have become accustomed to in Canada, and it was also true that the rooms were sorely in need of upgrading, and even a thorough cleaning. At one time, however, this hotel must have been very grand and the location could not have been better. Since we didn鈥檛 have much choice, we would have to make the best of the situation. But the whiners (again, mainly the adults) wouldn鈥檛 let it go and carried on to the point where a full-scale meltdown seemed imminent.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I managed to gather a group of the least upset students around me and gave a little speech which went something like this: 鈥淟ook! I know you鈥檙e upset about your rooms, but you can make a choice. You can focus on your poor accommodations and let that define your trip, or you can focus on the fact that in the morning when you look out your window, you will be gazing at the beautiful Bay of Naples. When will anyone of us have such an opportunity again?鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I鈥檓 glad to say that most of the students decided to look on the positive side of the situation, and their attitude changed significantly after that.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The next morning I wandered down the pier just outside our hotel, watched the local fishermen bring in the catch of the day, and soaked in the ambience of that remarkable place. 聽聽聽聽聽 Meanwhile, the hardcore complainers sat on the bus grumbling and refusing to let their disappointment abate, thereby missing out on one of the most beautiful sights of the entire trip.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Maybe there is an inoculation against complaining. It鈥檚 just a matter of deciding to stay positive and not giving in to those who see the glass as half empty.
