It is OK to complain.
In fact, sometimes you should.
Something is unfair. Complain.
You paid for high standards that slipped. Complain.
Someone is being treated badly. Complain.
When something important needs to change. Complain.
But I’ve developed a rule.
I can complain about the big things… but only when I’m grateful for the little things.
The problem isn’t complaining. It’s when complaining becomes a default setting.
The train is five minutes late. Bloody terrible.
It’s raining. Nightmare!
The queue is too long. They should have more staff.
This Wi-Fi is slow. How will I check my Insta?
Someone is driving at 28 mph in a 30 zone. How dare they?
It’s easy to become so good at spotting what’s wrong that you forget to notice everything that’s right.
Here’s the Flip It.
The kettle worked this morning.
The shower was hot.
Someone held a door open for you.
A friend sent you a message.
You slept in a bed.
Your car started.
You laughed at something stupid.
None of these things are life-changing.
But, in their own way, they are life-affirming.
Tiny, everyday things that make up most of our lives.
And because they happen so often, we stop noticing them.
Until they don’t happen.
You don’t appreciate the hot water until the boiler breaks.
You don’t appreciate a pain-free back until you pull something.
You don’t appreciate a five-minute queue until you’re stuck in a 45 minute one.
Gratitude isn’t pretending everything is wonderful. It’s noticing that not everything is awful.
And it doesn’t mean you have to accept poor standards, bad behaviour or things that need fixing.
So yes, please do complain.
Just don’t waste a good complaint on something that doesn’t deserve one.
Be Brilliant!
Michael
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