By Nancy Friedman, Keynote/Workshop Customer Service Speaker; President, Telephone Doctor Customer Service Training

Never again will I complain about a simple cold.

Never again will I complain I have a headache.

Never again will I complain because I broke a fingernail.

Never again will I complain because I ran out of milk or toothpaste or hair spray. Never again.

The list is endless of what I decided I won’t complain about. And when I forget, and I’m sure I will, I’ll remember Houston, the Florida Keys, Puerto Rico, Mexico City, Las Vegas and now Napa Valley; let alone my friends with cancer and other dreaded diseases who wish a broken nail etc. was all they had to complain about. They’d trade places with me / us in a nano second.

I’m tired of those who complain about not having small luxuries. Tired of people complaining when they have so much to be thankful for. A home, a refrigerator, fingers on their hands (let alone a broken nail) a job, a paycheck.

Dick and I recently toured the 911 memorial. That experience alone, without the recent tragedies, committed me to consider carefully what I complain about. The little daily inconveniences that frustrate us so much are now thought of as, “So what? It’s not San Juan. It’s not Las Vegas.” Just read over the list the next time you’re tempted to complain.

Can we all stop for a bit and realize how lucky we are. Want to trade a bad hair day for no place to live? Or live in a shelter? Or trade a bad night of sleep for having no bed at all? Or trade a lost sale for no job at all because your business was totaled. Or a life lost?

I’m hoping we remember not to complain about the little stuff. It could be worse. Much worse. We shouldn’t need these catastrophes to remind us not to complain. We really shouldn’t.

Keep it all in perspective when you complain. Never again!

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