It has occurred to me recently that whining and complaining is not all that it’s cracked up to be. At some point in one’s life, it becomes necessary to actually do something about what they want changed. This realization didn’t happen for me with doobage and unicorn rainbows shooting out my arse at a yoga studio run by a guru named Spirit Chevrolet. It happened for me at a red light on my way home from Target.
I had been stewing and stewing all day about finding work and putting away Christmas decorations and making school lunches and “Why can’t I just get a break I am working so haaaard?” when a little voice came into my head with four words that pretty much changed everything. “Shut the hell up.”
“Excuse me?” I thought to myself. But I felt that same voice tugging at me. Call it God. Call it my inner voice. Call it an angel with an attitude. I don’t care. For that moment, I sat in my own truth — the truth that it was up to ME to do something different. I knew this already, but it wasn’t until that moment that I really knew.
For many years, I wanted the tics to change.
I wanted people to change to make me feel better about my life.
Since those fantasies didn’t actually translate into real life for me, it was now time for me to change myself. A few excuses I had for whining, complaining and basically throwing a big boo boo tantrum for the past few months included, but are not limited to:
- I shouldn’t have to do all that social media stuff to get a job in this town. I’m a WRITER
- My husband isn’t changing into a beacon of flexibility. Why should I become the poster child for responsibility?
- My friends aren’t giving up wine. Why should I have to?
- My kids aren’t worried about cleaning their room. Why should I clean mine?
- I am too tired to exercise. I think I’ll just grow a spare tire and enjoy the wonders of armpit hair.
At the end of the day, I can either give my power to my husband, the tics, family obligations, my work, my kids or the dog, or I can give the power to me. Choosing me is kind of scary, because who the heck am I? Who the heck are you?
This question changes everything. It leads to destruction or transformation. It leads to failure or success. It leads to darkness or light. When we know who we are, we can be who we need to be. And when we are enough, no tic, person, place or thing can touch us. It’s not every day that I have this kind of epiphany, but between you, me and the street light, I’m glad I did.
