I was recently asked, “Why do you keep saying I don’t like this or I don’t want to do that?” Or in other words, why do I complain so much?

I had no reply to that except to say, only one quarters joking, “Now I’ll be extra aware of complaining in front of you.”

And I have been, but not only in front of that person. I have been hyper aware of complaining in front of myself. I complain about getting up early for work, going to school, doing homework, my time of the month, etc. I actually do not mind any of these (except for my time of the month), so why do I feel the need to whine about them?

To be honest, I feel rather surprised at myself. I have never perceived myself as constantly complaining before. And when others did so, it drove me crazy. I deeply disliked (and still do) the song “Can’t Complain” by Nickel Creek and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is still my least favorite book because of the angst and anger expressed by the protagonist.

When my previous roommate found our apartment complex slow to respond to her, she fumed and let it bring her down. I told her that what was happening was not actually affecting her that much and instead of fixating on negatives to focus on the positive things like the sun shining or the wind blowing through her hair or her cat waiting for playtime back at home. I didn’t think that I wasn’t following my advice. I thought I was fine in that area.

It is a little late for a New Year’s resolution and I don’t believe in them anyway. Instead, a new life resolution is to complain significantly less and enjoy everything that is happening to the best of my abilities.

I’m sure I will break this resolution several times, but I won’t despair. Instead, I’ll remind myself (while simultaneously making lighthearted fun at myself) to see the good always by singing a little song entitled “I’m a complainer” to the tune of “I’m a believer.”