We all have things we like to complain about all throughout the year (or at least I do). And now that it’s the holiday season, and more specifically Thanksgiving, it can feel as if our complaints are out of place (and they probably are). However, before we reflect on our blessings and set aside our restrants I’d like to share with you a few of my favorite things:
1. School
I fell in love with school when I was four years old. I started studying before my time, and after 17 years of homework (I used to erase my sister’s homework and redo it—oh and don’t forget all the summer classes) I’m kind of burnt out. I’m grateful to be in school and learn all that I’m learning with the people I have around me (praise him!), but the structure of school is one of life’s big mysteries (don’t get started on the school system, let’s move on).
2. The cold
I like that we have four season (for the most part) in the Midwest, but when it’s cold…
3. Waking up
I’m one of those people that can’t stay in bed past nine on the weekends, likes to be up before anyone else, and can actually be productive in the morning. But I’m also one of those people that sleeps with a fan pointed at my face while laying under four blankets, and I don’t like being cold. Mornings are kind, but it’s a cold cruel world outside of the blankets.
4. People
They’re everywhere. Real humans! I like to complain anytime I have to interact with new people or just sit with a large crowd of strangers, it’s unsettling. Perhaps you’ve gotten used to the idea that there are people who think to the same capacity as you and that CSI is a TV show, but you’ve got to admit other people are kind of scary (especially when your friends like to talk about strange and disturbing crimes).
5. Email
Communication is great. Communication is key, but email is just overwhelming. I can get over a hundred emails a day (which is still below what my mom gets). It takes a long time to sort between the junk and the useful stuff, and when that’s done I still have to read and reply (to a human?).
I could probably complain all day (I probably have), but this is a season of thankfulness. I really am grateful for all of the things I complain about (with sound reason), but sometimes it just feels good to complain. As we are well aware, we don’t live in a perfect world, complaining is one of the ways we cope. This holiday season I hope you find a lot to complain about, I hope you find a lot of reasons to smile, and I hope that through everything you’re grateful.
