The Disney movie - FROZEN - just came out on DVD. We took the girls to see it in the theater and loved it, so we had to buy it too! The popular song (that is on the border of becoming annoying because it's being played so much) is "let it go". I am thinking of adopting this phrase for our household.
I'm not sure if it's just the bad winter we've been having, or poor attitudes, or too many outside influences, but lately we sure have been a complaining crew! It seems we complain about everything - jobs, weather, prices, politics, people, etc...the list goes on and on. I'm even starting to complain about all of the complaining! Something needs to change - we all just need to "let it go"!
Gordon B. Hinckley, a former LDS Church president, has some wonderful quotes about our behavior. I love this one: "Let there be something of a light tone in your life. Let there be fun and happiness, a sense of humor, the capacity to laugh occasionally at the things that are funny." We do precious little laughing when we complain. Many times when one is complaining, we all end up on the angry train right along with the complainer. Our tempers flare and we see only the injustice of our situations. Ironically, the people we complain about HAVE NO IDEA we're complaining about them!
President Hinckley also said, "I plead with you to control your tempers, to put a smile upon your faces, which will erase anger; speak out with words of love and peace, appreciation, and respect. If you will do this, your lives will be without regret. Your marriages and family relationships will be preserved. You will be much happier. You will do greater good. You will feel a sense of peace that will be wonderful." I know that there are times in our lives that we get upset and it helps to vent, but you know what? If we are just complaining to complain, it's a waste of time. In almost all situations, the one who ultimately needs to change, is the complainer him/herself.
I'm pretty sure that this time parenting is to blame. We listened to, and participated with the kids, in complaining about teachers, homework, coaches, referees, friends, game losses, lunch food, farm work, poor grammar (okay, that's mostly me!)..... Now, with grown up kids, the complaints are work, people at work, people in general, government, money, farm work, how time is spent....etc... We are a family of able-bodied, capable people who can accomplish much good, but we choose instead to hide behind complaints. I'm stating on the record that this has been WRONG. I'm also going to state that anyone can change at any time. We've been complainers for a brief moment, if you look at the eternal timeline - so let's fix this! The sooner the better.
There's only so much time we are given in this life! Another favorite quote of mine is by Professor Dumbledore - the headmaster of Hogwarts in the Harry Potter books. He says "It is our choices, Harry, that show who we truly are, far more than our abilities." Let's choose to look at the good, at the opportunities we have been given, at the beauty of the world, at the blessings that we have, and have fun more often!
