So I honestly believe that sometimes we tend to dislike things about others because they are really characteristics that we dislike about ourselves. With that being said, this is more about me than anyone else, so please don’t take offense. Recently, I was on the phone with someone and I noticed that EVERY conversation we had the other person only had something negative to say. I tried to be as encouraging as possible but I will admit I was more that happy to end the conversation early. I was so frustrated when I got off the phone, how can everything that is going on in your life suck. Then I was even more annoyed when I read their Facebook status (social network at its beast) and it was “happy-go-lucky” (what a contradiction.) And of course I went down the list of how FB and other social networking sites allow us to create to fake image of happiness, which only made matters worse. Then it hit me, (1) I was being negative right then and (2) my husband says that I never have anything good/positive to say and that sometimes he hates talking to me because I can be a downer. And yes, I will admit that I do have my moments but I am not sure if I have that same “negative Nadine” effect on everyone. (And if I do, it must suck to be around me!)
After venting on the phone with my husband and doing what I love (playing in makeup), I had a revelation: “How thankful are we (really), if we are always complaining?” And it’s true, no matter how much of a front we put up on FB, twitter or anywhere else if you complain about your blessings then you aren’t thankful. And complaining really doesn’t solve anything, it just make you feel worse and makes you annoying. I remember about 4 years ago when I was working at the bank, everyday I complained about how much I hated my job and then without warning I was unemployed. I was devastated, to say the least. So when I was able to find a job with the power company, I thought that it was the greatest job ever. We should be careful when we complain, especially when what we have is truly a blessing. I try to remind myself of that incident and trust me it really hard to NOT to complain when my children are driving me crazy. But, I read somewhere a while back, that you life is someone else’s dream. So when complaining about having to go to work, cook, clean or anything (for that matter) consider the fact that you could be unemployed, hungry or homeless. Just a thought…
And I am reminded of this scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5: “16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
The Savvy Housewife 
PREACH!!!
Wow! Now I know how you really feel about talking to me :(…. Just kidding!!! Let me start off by saying that I think you are sooo far from a “Negative Nadine”… Do I always like what you have to say about certain situations? Absolutely NOT!! But as my friend do I expect for you to tell me everything I need to hear and not just what I want to hear? YES!
We have to remember that sometimes people can get stuck in a certain kind of “funk” and even though they are our friends we have to kind of seperate ourselves from that until they can pull them self out. And if they never do, then we have to realize that it is ok to out grow people!
We can never let anyone or anything steal our joy!
This is so true. In the past year or so I have had to cut too many Debbie Downers out of my life. I went through some things and I was at a very low place in my life. I realized that I needed to surround myself with positive uplifting people or I was going to stay exactly where I was. So, I did and I have seen such a change in my life, the way I treat others, the way others treat me and my overall attitude. I wake up feeling thankful and restored every day, a type of peace I never knew could exist within me and it’s amazing. You are SO right, your life *is* someone else’s dream. I always remind myself that somewhere there is someone with so much less than me so much happier. I was unemployed myself for a while and I was so thankful to get my new job that even though it’s not what I want to do ultimately and sometimes I get frustrated, when people ask me how is work I say “it’s going well”. That same “annoying” job pays my bills and keeps me fed. I remind myself of that daily. Thank you for sharing.