CHILL

It seems everywhere I go ─ someone is complaining about something. I was part of that clique until about 10 years ago, when I drastically cut back on my petty complaints after hearing a minister explain how well citizens in the United States have it.

Pastor Chad Garrison mentioned that the poorest people in this country are far better off than those in third-world countries. He used statistics in his message, but I don’t recall the numbers.

Philippians 2:14 tells us: “Do everything without grumbling or arguing.” That is a hard pill to swallow for some because they seem to live to complain. I’m thinking of one person here, and those who know him would wholeheartedly agree. It’s just his nature, and that might be why he’s never kept a wife.

In the 1970s television sitcom “All in the Family,” Archie Bunker would always tell his wife, “Stifle yourself, Edith.” This came after she rambled on and on about a topic Archie disliked. Edith eventually turned the tables on her husband, telling Archie to zip it. I’ve never done that to anyone but would’ve liked to.

Twenty years ago, I was complaining about something political on Facebook when a friend basically told me to zip it unless I had a solution, which I didn’t. Michelle’s message took a while to sink in, and I eventually saw the light. That did set me on a path to complain less, but it didn’t totally end there. I believe Pastor Chad’s message was the final nail in the coffin.

These days, you won’t find me complaining about the food I get at a restaurant, because dining out is a blessing, and I’ve stopped taking this luxury for granted. If mashed potatoes are a little cold, they’ll still go down the yap. When someone drives a bit too slowly, I no longer get irritated because at this age I can go even slower than them.

Late mail is not a biggie. It only prolongs paying those bills, and at this point in life, who cares about their credit score anyway? The neighbors leaving their garbage cans out two days past pickup is no problem for me, since I’ve done the same, and the world kept right on revolving, just like on that soap opera, “As the World Turns.” My wife now tells me that show went off the air. We’ll just act like it didn’t for sake of my example here.

Mismatched socks, who gives a rip. No one looks that far down, as Joleen claims they do. Two different colors are nothing to get all worked up over. I no longer complain about which candidate gets in office, because I pray and vote, and that’s as much power as I have in that department. Whining or grumbling never does anything positive here except irritate those who have to listen.

I could go on and on, but that might come across as griping. I can only say that after a half century, I’ve finally changed, and feel much better for it. My 1970s advice for those feeling just the opposite right now: “Chill!”