1) One finds cultures founded on guilt (typically in the Judeo-Christian world), cultures founded on submission (Islam), and cultures founded on shame (typicallyin Asia).
2) There exists another culture, one without borders that encompasses all. Taking people’s stoicism captive, it seeps through everyday life and breeds disdain.
Such is our culture of complaint.
Such is our culture of complaint.
3) There is much to complain about: life, politics, treasonous friends, and, of course, work!
On any given day, all these topics come up.
On any given day, all these topics come up.
4) This perversion of the mind lays hold upon us all.
Individually and collectively, we engage in grumbling; daily, hourly.
Individually and collectively, we engage in grumbling; daily, hourly.
5) The many things in life we should be grateful for are lost in our worries and whines.
6) Am I alone in detecting in people—myself included—an unappealing sense of ingratitude, the conceit of those blessed but whose heads swing in frustration because they fail to see their good fortune?
7) Consider the life of the overworked underclass. They brave harsh realities and sustain their society, living austere lives of unrelieved scarcity.
8) We protest: their fate is not ordained by God but by repeated bad policies and the self-interest of governing elites.
9) Yet I encounter countless invisible souls who describe their own situation stolidly.
They look up and give thanks for what they have and blame no one for what they lack.
They look up and give thanks for what they have and blame no one for what they lack.
10) Perhaps complaining takes a listener and leisure, and they have neither.
While we choose to drown in our sorrows, they simply get on with life.
While we choose to drown in our sorrows, they simply get on with life.
11) Our misery and unhappiness, according to Rumi, is directly connected to our insolence and refusal to praise.
Sadly, instead of thankfulness, we developed an ungrateful nature.
Sadly, instead of thankfulness, we developed an ungrateful nature.
12) Sa’adi strikes at our self-centered ego. 
13) When our tongue desires to complain, we should go contrary to it and find a reason to be thankful instead.
For anything that could be better, there is always something else that could be worse.
For anything that could be better, there is always something else that could be worse.
14) If we overcome our culture of complaint and get in touch with gratitude, it will change the way we see everything.
15) The thought of the self will vanish, and the thought of others will take root.
Rather than always wanting, we will care more about giving.
Instead of relying on our imperfect understanding, we will look up to find greater meaning.
Rather than always wanting, we will care more about giving.
Instead of relying on our imperfect understanding, we will look up to find greater meaning.
16) Even virtues, such as tolerance and forgiveness, will arise in our hardened hearts as they soften.
Life will thus unfold itself more beautifully. Our half-empty cup will fill to the brim.
Life will thus unfold itself more beautifully. Our half-empty cup will fill to the brim.
17) So when I say, “I can’t complain,” you should understand what I truly mean: I choose not to.
18) Al Tabarani knew after all: “Learn to lock up your tongue in the prison of your mouths.”
Happy Thanksgiving! 😊
Happy Thanksgiving! 😊
19) For more distilled infusions of clarity and inspiration, check out: strayreflectionsbook.com.
It is an antidote to the great angst of modern life.
It is an antidote to the great angst of modern life.
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