Friendships

S__t or Get off the Pot!

Why complain if you’re not going to do anything about it?

My father was a really smart guy.  He was actually a rocket scientist when that was a new thing in the 60’s and 70’s.  But, he had very little tolerance for someone who complained continually about the same thing but never did anything about it.  He would always say “they need to s—t or get off the pot”.  I imagine that was a popular thing when he was growing up and there was only one bathroom in the house!

As I get older I find that I often use him as a reference.  It’s always strange for me to hear his “voice” come out of my mouth – but like I said he was a really smart guy and I always feel really smart when I do.  His frustration over people who refuse to change but love to complain is a frustration I hold as well.

I’ve never understood why someone will complain about something that is happening either to them or around them and then just prefers to continue to complain regularly about that same thing but won’t do anything about it.  If the thing is that annoying to them why don’t they just remove themselves from either the thing or the situation that is causing the thing to happen?  Perhaps they just like to hear the sound of their voice and think that if they either complain loudly enough or often enough it will stop.   I’ve got a secret – the thing will continue to happen until the situation changes.

Here’s the deal (and here’s when I hear my Dad’s voice) no one wants to hear about it over and over again.  If they don’t want to change the situation, then they need to change their behavior (at least around me) and just – shut up!

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