Complaining is a habit. A bad one.

Last night a few of us had a nice dinner and then went out for ice cream. It was a beautiful May night with perfect weather -- which we hadn't seen in a while since it's been rainier and colder than usual this spring.

We went to the outdoor custard stand a few blocks away and evidently weren't the only ones who thought it would be a good idea. The line was looooooooooooong. About 10 minutes into our wait the complaining started. "Why is the line so slow?" "They should have more than one window open." And from a little one who was "so stuffed" he couldn't finish dinner 15 minutes before I heard, "I'm hungry!"

I was irritated and started to complain about the fact that they were complaining. (Brilliant, I know. Like the parent that whacks the kid while saying, "Don't hit!")

We talked later about how there really wasn't anything to complain about. We were in no hurry. We were in nice company. It was a lovely evening. Waiting a few more minutes for dessert actually helped our stomachs make room for the chocolate-peanut butter-caramel-pecan-fudge-sin-in-a-custard-cup we gorged on.

How scary is it that we complain without even thinking about it! We decided we need to be a no complaining household -- it's gonna cost a quarter in the Complaining Jar every time we do it. And I also learned that there is a  book out (see sidebar booklist) that talks about this very thing, and a website, too.

Home, workplace and in fact, the world, will be a better place without complaining.