I’m sure most of you have heard the old saying, “Laugh and world laughs with you, grumble and you grumble alone.” There’s more truth in that old saying than we think. Nobody likes a grumbler. You’ve all seen and heard this type of person who whines, grumbles, and is almost always discontented. People who are constant complainers are difficult to be around and it’s too hard to enjoy being in their presence. These eternal pessimists with their petty outlooks, seldom enjoy life and those around them. I think the worst thing though is that the constant complainer usually lacks a sense of humor. The ability to laugh with others and at ourselves is a sure cure for depression and moodiness.

There is a short poem about “The Grumble Family,” I’d like to share and if we see ourselves here somewhere, perhaps we should try to change our lives and our attitudes somewhat.

There’s a family nobody likes to meet, they live, it is said, on Complaining Street.

In the city of Never-Are- Satisfied, the River of Discontent beside.

They growl at that and they growl at this. Whatever comes, there is something amiss.

And whether their station be high or humble, they are known by the name of grumble.

The weather is always too hot or too cold, summer and winter alike they scold;

Nothing goes right with the folks you meet, down on that gloomy Complaining Street.

They growl at the rain and they growl at the sun;

In fact, their growling is never done.

And if everything pleased them, there isn’t a doubt,

They’d growl that they’d nothing to growl about!

And the worst thing is that if anyone stays, among them too long, he will learn their ways.

And before he dreams of the terrible jumble, he’s adopted into the family of Grumble.

So it is wisest to keep our feet, from wandering into Complaining Street.

And never to growl, whatever we do; Lest we be mistaken for grumblers too.

I think most of us are blessed with mediocre capacities, average abilities, and rather ordinary personalities. But we can learn to make the most of what we have, remain positive and not become grumblers.