Sojourner Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 I'm making some really big changes in my life at the moment, and have been fighting the temptation to whine about how tough it is. (Some people might question whether I've actually been "fighting" per se, because it seems like I catch myself in full-fledged whine on a regular basis.) For the most part, the changes are good, and I'm certain I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, so I remind myself of that fact when I do catch myself mid-whine ... but I'd like to get to the point where I'm not as prone to whining about how "awful" my life is. Largely because it's really not that awful. Thus far, each and every one of my needs has been met, and I'm quite sure that as long as I'm doing what I'm supposed to do that will continue to be true -- although I slip out of that surety when I enter whine-mode. So, how do the rest of you deal with whininess? For those of you who have conquered it, share your secrets! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 have yet to conquire it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted July 12, 2006 Author Share Posted July 12, 2006 [quote name='homeschoolmom' post='1022794' date='Jul 12 2006, 11:23 AM'] have yet to conquire it... [/quote] I decided I had to work on it when I realized that I could more easily list off the ways in which my life smells of elderberries than the ways in which I'm being blessed. And my life really doesn't smell of elderberries. My focus is all wrong ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Well, this morning I awoke to my son whining (which is one of my least favorite ways to wake up)... And I was deeply asleep, too. So, I'm tired. But I caught myself. "Thank you, Lord, for my son. Thank you that his whining is not over something serious like a painful illness. Thank you that I have the strength to get out of bed and attend to his needs. Thank you that there's cereal in the kitchen to feed him. And thank you that at some point he will stop whining. Someday he won't need me to care for him. Help me to appreciate him (and all his little faults) each day." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted July 12, 2006 Author Share Posted July 12, 2006 Yeah, I think it has to be a conscious effort to re-orient your focus, and not get hung up on the not-so-great stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincessKRS Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 I'm terrible about whining... its hard not to sometimes. Definately have to focus on NOT whining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lahecil Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 I keep a journal (3, actually, plus another book but those aren't very important here). That's where I moan and whine about everything wrong in my life. It's not a book of woe-is-me though...at the end of each entry, I list at least three things I'm blessed with, and at least three things I need to improve on. That way I get everything off my chest without making anyone annoyed at me, it really helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 When I lived in Guatemala, there was a young girl there named Juliana. She was living at the orphanage with her three sisters and her brother. Juliana was a great kid (now a great young lady) and would help me with my spanish. Also when the orphans came over and stole stuff (which was all the time) she would track it down for me and bring it back. Juliana would also make me laugh constantly. Mostly when she would make fun of my horrible spanish... After being there for a few months, I found out how she got to the orphanage. One night when she was ten, the army showed up at her family's house (i.e. cornstalk hut). They dragged her parents out of the house and accused them of being guerilla sympathizers. They tied both her parents to a tree and tortured them. When they refused to confess, they shot both of the parents in front of Juliana and her siblings. Then they put the kids back in the house, barricaded the door and set the house on fire. Juliana, at the ripe old age of 10, got each of her siblings out of the house and took them up into the mountains. Eventually, they came across someone who knew about the orphanage and took them there. While there have been bad things that have happened in my life, nothing can compare to the horror that girl went through. So on the regular occasion that I start feeling sorry for myself, I think back to how much of a help Juliana was. And in my book, if anyone had a reason to whine and be bitter, it was her. That usually gets me to stop. So my suggestion would be, go to a developing nation and talk with a young girl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sojourner Posted July 12, 2006 Author Share Posted July 12, 2006 Huh. Yeah, suddenly I don't feel quite so whiney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IcePrincessKRS Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Yeah, things like that make me feel pretty guilty about all my whining. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavenseeker Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 (edited) you whine about your whining thats the least best kind Edited July 12, 2006 by heavenseeker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 [quote name='heavenseeker' post='1023164' date='Jul 12 2006, 04:27 PM'] you whine about your whining thats the wores kind [/quote] To be fair, I don't think that makes Soj trampy.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
homeschoolmom Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 Yeah, really... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heavenseeker Posted July 12, 2006 Share Posted July 12, 2006 ok i edited it i didnt check spelling i sholud do that more sorry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clg01 Posted July 13, 2006 Share Posted July 13, 2006 [quote name='Sojourner' post='1022797' date='Jul 12 2006, 09:25 AM'] I decided I had to work on it when I realized that I could more easily list off the ways in which my life smells of elderberries than the ways in which I'm being blessed. And my life really doesn't smell of elderberries. My focus is all wrong ... [/quote] I agree with that wholeheartedly. We so often thank God of what we have. We forget to thank Him for the things (whether good or bad/ whether we needed them or not) He has taken away and for those that remain with us, by His Grace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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