So I failed miserably with my plight. OK, maybe not failed miserably but I had some horrible follow-up and follow-through. Over a year ago now (yeah, I had to go back to my blog and check) I decided to join the movement of a complaint-free world via A Complaint Free World.

Here are some excerpts from my original blog post(s):

Here

I want to thank sandsurf for bringing this program to my attention. I pride myself on being a positive person, but according to research we all complain on the average of 10 or more times a day!

That’s astonishing!

I for one am interested in learning more about myself.

I can honestly say I encounter way too many complaints in my daily life, especially at work lately!!!

My plan is to apply the program to my personal actions, and roll it forward onto my fellow co-workers.

Here

Striving for ‘A Complaint Free World’ means changing my thoughts. Changing my thoughts allows me to change my habits. The biggest habits of all being ‘venting’, ‘decompressing’ and GOSSIP.

A habit which I thought was healthy until now.

Here

And there was that extra push I needed. A kind and positive reminder.

I can proudly say I stayed positive, If I voiced my opinion it was with constructive and problem solving effort. I made no empty complaints about the situation. I found myself smiling harder. I realized how much I was beaming with delight when I finally clocked out for the evening.

I can’t say I didn’t have negative thoughts. And I can’t say I was ‘happy’ I was called in to work. But I can say I didn’t make the situation worse.

I’m looking forward to tackling this animal head on. I don’t know how well I’ll comply, but I’m damn well sure going to give it my best. If last night was a predictor or precursor for what’s in store.

I wore the bracelet and still wear the bracelet to this day, but I can’t honestly say I’ve been ‘in training’. I still complained. I still participated in all the negative gossip. I simply put up the front that I was ‘better’.

Well no more.

I started yesterday. I actively switched my bracelet every time I caught myself complaining – which was way too much. It’s going to be a long road. The only time I didn’t participate in the gossip or negativity was when I shut up (so much for me being positive and not complaining ehh?).

This is going to be a toughie, but I’m determined to see how it changes me, my life, and those around me. I’ve made notions for my wife to join me, I’ll be interested to see if she actively joins me in my pursuit. I think she’s still on the fence about the ‘definition’ of complaining. Gossiping is complaining whether I like to admit it or not. They both elicit the same feeling and result – nothing but negativity and detraction from something else. We gossip to make ourselves feel better about a situation we don’t agree with. We gossip to ‘one-up’ someone. We don’t gossip or complain to improve a situation.

I’m fairly committed to this, heck maybe even a lil too committed. I think I’m borderline obsessed with it since all this time I’ve considered myself a very positive person.

I need to see the ripple effect. I want to be the change I keep asking for and searching for. It’s been researched it takes 21 days to break any habit. 21 days straight that is. I’m still on day 1.

By the way – as I was typing this blog post I realized I was technically complaining about me and my complaining?? So I stared over again today.

Does anyone care to join me?