One of my resolutions is to “Turn complaints into pleasures.”
This vow was partly inspired by something a friend said to me during our senior year in college. She was an art major, and I was an English major, and we were commiserating about all the work we had to finish before we graduated.
“Well,” she said at the end of the conversation, “one day we’ll look back on this and think, ‘Oh yeah, we were complaining because we had to read some novels and paint some pictures.’”
So I’m trying hard to remember that often, the very things I complain about are things that I enjoy. It sounds impossible to turn complaints into pleasures, but I’ve actually managed to do it several times.
This morning, for example, as I was mentally running through my day, I kept thinking, “What a pain, when should I vote? If I go after I drop off the Big Girl at school, I’ll have to bring the Little Girl in her stroller. If I go on my way to Society Library, there will probably be a lunch crowd…” etc. etc.
Then it occurred to me: I love to vote!
I love the sense of accomplishment it gives me, like I’ve really done something significant during the course of my day.
I love the ritual aspect—the whole country going through an experience together. It’s like the Super Bowl. Especially this year, with all the suspense around the Super-Duper Tuesday.
And it gives me a sense of…of…earning my keep. I live in a stable democratic government—sheesh, I hardly deserve that good fortune if I don’t vote.
And for all my whining, my voting experience could not have been any more convenient. My polling area is literally around the corner from my house. They found my name on the list right away. I didn’t have to wait in line.
And as I walked out, I thought to myself—now, even if I don’t get anything more accomplished in my day, at least I did vote. I love to vote.
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Check out my movie! The Years Are Short. Well, it’s not really a MOVIE — call it a two-minute internet show.
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