Complaints and complainers

Tourist guides. Fantastic people they are. If you think for a moment that their lives are littered with good times and glamour, think again. The only things that litter their working days are the unending streams of complaints they get to hear every day of their working lives.

“I don’t like this hotel.”

“The food is bad!”

“The air condition is too cold...”

“The air condition is too hot...”

People complain about the same things in different languages, so don’t you ever think that being a tourist guide is easy. Some make a lot of money, others don’t, but everyone must face the stinging complaints from grumbling and dissatisfied tourists.

This reminds me of a story in an article that appeared in a magazine years ago:

A guide at Blarney Castle in Ireland was explaining to some visitors that his job was not always as pleasant as it seemed. He told them about a group of disgruntled tourists he had taken to the castle earlier in the week.

“These people were complaining about everything,” he said. “They didn’t like the weather, the food, their hotel accommodations, the prices, everything. Then, to top it off, when we arrived at the castle, we found out that the area around the Blarney Stone was roped off. Workers were making some kind of repairs.”

“This is the last straw!”, exclaimed one person who seemed to be the chief faultfinder in the group. “I’ve come all this way, and now I can’t even kiss the Blarney Stone.” 

“Well, you know,” the guide said, “according to legend, if you kiss someone who has kissed the stone, it’s the same as kissing the stone itself.”    

“And I suppose you’ve kissed the stone,” growled the exasperated tourist.    

And this tourist guide who has just about lost his patience and charm replied, “Better than that,” replied the guide. “I’ve sat on it. And if you want to kiss it then you’re most welcome!”

Funny but very unkindly words, I would say. But then consider the fact that there are people who are hopeless whiners. Nothing could bring them satisfaction. Everything they see and touch brings forth a negative remark or two.

Well, I guess I don’t need to expound – you know what I mean.

A number of years ago, Psychology Today ran an article about a man who committed three hours a day, for 10 years, to complaining. Each day he’d call, write, or talk to someone about what he thought was wrong with the world. Rather than changing anything, the article concluded that the only result of this exercise was that it made the man incredibly miserable.

Some people complain all the time because they claim that their cantankerous spirit give them the purpose for living. They wake up each morning, find something to grumble about, and then derive a satisfaction from making others miserable. What a way to live. Two things I know for sure: A grumbler is a miserable person, and a miserable companion!    

There are plenty of things that we can complain about, but do we have a solution for these problems, and have we done something to improve the condition apart from whining about it?

We can complain about our bosses. We can complain about our jobs. We can complain about the country, the traffic and everything else, but the question is what does that do for our souls?

I choose to look at the good things that are happening and be glad about it.

I have had difficult bosses, but I learned from their expertise, and in some way, I have learned not to behave like them.

I have had a difficult job. But I learned the trade, worked on it, excelled in it, and that trade has propelled me to a better place, and led me to the kind of life and work I do today.

I have a million things I can complain about our country, but I chose to be thankful that this country is home for me and has provided me with an opportunity to do business, be productive and has the freedom to pursue God and happiness.

Have you checked up on yourself lately?  You may be doing more grumbling than you realize. 

Look at the good instead and be thankful. Somebody said, “it is not happiness that leads to a sense of gratitude, but it is gratitude that leads to a sense of happiness.” I do agree.

Meanwhile, I go through our daily traffic and I use the time to listen to podcasts. I meet difficult people, but now I appreciate them and know that I am in a unique position to encourage them, and all these years of being positive and thankful has led me to a kind of work I love and appreciate. So, don’t complain. Be thankful instead.

(Experience two inspiring days of leadership training with Francis Kong in his highly acclaimed Level Up Leadership seminar-workshop on Sept. 18-19 at Makati Diamond Residences near Greenbelt 1. For registration or inquiries contact April at +63928-559-1798 or register online at www.levelupleadership.ph.)

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