Today’s post is for all those whose passion is to complain about all the bad things that happen to them. And for those who know people that act like this. Just like a poor little pug who needs a hug.
Learn to appreciate life
I recently heard of a new trend that originated in South Korea and is spreading to Europe: live your own”death experience”. This idea started as a means of helping suicidal people understand the consequences of their (possible) actions. This bizarre and macabre ceremony involves people writing testaments, lying in a coffin and having mock funerals. And this all with one profound purpose: learn to appreciate life.
We don’t need to go that far to identify people around us who would need a “wake-up call” to get out of their constant victim attitude. This friend, neighbour or family member who say that only bad things happen to them. I’m sick again, I am always the first who catches something! What a bad weather, always when I have a day off! Someone stole my purse, I have such bad luck! etc. etc. etc.
We notice when things go wrong and we ignore when they go well
And we need to go even less far to realise it’s sometimes us who behave like this, forgetting all those beautiful things that surround us and all the good things that happen to us. It’s curious how we notice when things go wrong but we don’t seem to notice when all is going smooth. Sometimes I wonder how many mishaps I avoided a day… without knowing. I am sure you stepped at least once in life in a dog poo. You probably said “shit!” (how true) and complained about it. But have you ever asked yourself how often you did not step in any? Next time, give it a thought!
There’s an anecdote by Kurt Vonnegut about a conversation he had with Joseph Heller, the author of Catch-22. Both were one night at a billionaire’s house and Vonnegut asked Heller how he felt about the fact that the billionaire made the same money in one day as Heller with his famous book? His humble reply in the poem:
Joe Heller
True story, Word of Honor:
Joseph Heller, an important and funny writer
now dead,
and I were at a party given by a billionaire
on Shelter Island.
I said, “Joe, how does it make you feel
to know that our host only yesterday
may have made more money
than your novel ‘Catch-22’
has earned in its entire history?”
And Joe said, “I’ve got something he can never have.”
And I said, “What on earth could that be, Joe?”
And Joe said, “The knowledge that I’ve got enough.”
Not bad! Rest in peace!”
—Kurt Vonnegut
The New Yorker, May 16th, 2005
Get a hug and get over it.
Next time you feel like everything is going wrong in your life think about all the things that you take for granted.
Overcome the victim in yourself.
Perhaps you just have a little pug moment.
The little pug who’s begging for a hug.
Get a hug and get over it.