I came home the other day and noticed a package from A Complaint Free World sitting on our credenza. Chris had decided to order some bracelets as a practice to be more mindful. He had forgotten about my assignment I had had for yoga teacher training a few years ago. We had to go complaint free for 24hrs. It took me two days.
The rules are simple. You wear a bracelet and every time you voice a complaint or criticism you have to move the bracelet to the other wrist. The idea is to not have to move the bracelet for 21 days. It’s difficult and humbling. You realize very early on just how much you complain and or criticize. Last year, I put the bracelet back on because I felt myself slipping back into that cycle. I was at a job I didn’t really care for and not in a place where it was easy to be happy. I had to work to bring happy into my life and some days were harder than others. But one day, I went to work with the bracelet on and come home with no bracelet. Some where in my day, I had lost the bracelet.
Chris and I each put on a bracelet that night. We started talking about this and that and suddenly we both realized that we needed to move our bracelets. Afterward Chris would say “Now this is not a complaint, it’s just an observation, but …”. It made me laugh. I told him we may have to change the rules to include his “observations”. The next day, I wore my bracelet. It stayed put on one wrist all day. I really don’t have all that much to complain about.
And today for Love Thursday, I am doing my very first give-a-way. The first eight people to leave a comment, will be sent their very own complaint free bracelet. Happy Love Thursday!
Check out A Complaint Free Revolution on YouTube.
Or the book, A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted.
My observation is that you two are the best
I love this. LOVE this. Hooray for Love Thursday!
You are terrific. Does it only count if you voice your complaints or do you move the bracelet over when you mentally grumble?
It is said that 80% of your thoughts are not your own. It’s not until you voice the words that you can claim them as your’s. Hives and crapped out computer had me changing wrists this morning.
I was thinking this morning that I really wanted to bitch to someone about how sick I am of everyone’s bitching….well, whoops.
I think I need one for Chris, Quinn and I !!
Hives. Head shaking. They kill me. I spend a lot of time complaining about complainers. I dislike that. Their energy kills my inner chi.
What an amazing thing! You two…this is one of the things I love about you and your relationship….how you really take time to talk about life and connect with ideas and implement what you want to change. Even if you admittedly fail, you go back, you try and you inspire all of us to do the same. I’ve said it before, but I am a better person for having you in my life. This post, by the way, is the straw that broke my “I Miss You” back…time to plan a weekend. I’ll start looking at dates.
I fear I’ll have nothing left to say . . . This could make the people around me VERY happy. LOL
(BTW – Observations are just that until someone adds a judgment to them. Could your opinions of his observations count as the criticism?)
I complain a lot. Please send me an extra wrist.
OK – In re-reading my comment, I don’t think I came across the way I intended. Please add a “Maybe” or an “I think” to my BTW side note. I was really just trying to give Chris the benefit of the doubt. And create a loophole for me to try the experiment. Guilty.
It’s not a loophole, really. Will Bowen says that you’re not supposed to just take everything that comes your way, but that you should talk to only the person who has the power to rectify the situation, and stick to the facts (which have no judgements). One of the examples he uses is that telling a waiter “This soup is cold” is not a complaint, but saying “How dare you serve me cold soup!” is complaining.
I like that when I think creatively, there is nothing but positivity. I may have to get a tattoo that incorporates that idea around my wrist. I am really enjoying your new blog look & feel. Hope the positivity keeps growing!
Doh!
When I commented, there were only 5. We last three must have hit send all at the same time!
I’m going to complain about not winning.
Hmmmm, the entire country should try this out. It would be the most amazing thing.
Oh, that is SUCH a great idea!!!
I like this idea too, Cindy! I’ve been thinking maybe I need to just tattoo the phrase “Be Patient” on my wrist where I can see it all the time. This would be a bit less drastic and maybe even more effective.
What a great idea! I think I’ll have to get some of these for my whole family. I definitely want to try this out!