Frustration.

I realize the irony of what I'm about to say, which is that people need to stop complaining. (The irony being that I'm complaining about people who complain too much.)

But really, this is more constructive criticism than actual complaining. And please don't take it personally. This is totally stemming from a bad experience I had in my choral ensemble today, it has nothing to do with any of you. You're all too cool to make it on my "things/people that really bug me" list. ;) 

So here goes.

What purpose does complaining serve? Does it make things better? Do you magically get what you want out of life by letting out a little whimper and whining that you would be better off somewhere else or doing something else or being something different?

Please, do us all and yourself a favor and suck it up.

Life is what it is, and it's also what you make it. But you can only work with what you HAVE. Complaining is not making anything happen. Complaining is just wishing for different materials. You will never get anywhere in life if you stare at what's in front of you and look at your goals and think that the two can't go hand in hand. Yes, they can. You just have to find a different way to go about it.

For example, let's say someone in a, oh...I don't know...choral ensemble, maybe? Let's go with that. Someone in a choral ensemble is placed in the second soprano section. This person believes that he or she (...well, okay, I think we all know it's not a he, considering I totally just mentioned the voice part in question) would be much better suited to the first soprano section. This person proceeds to tell everyone who will listen and even some who won't that she would be so much better off in the soprano section.

What this person does NOT take into consideration is that:

a) there might be other people in the second soprano section that are by nature first sopranos

b) The reason said other sopranos and the certain someone in question were placed in the second soprano section MAY be that they just needed more people in that section than in the first soprano section

c) That said, it should potentially be taken as a compliment that they placed you as a second soprano because it could mean they thought you could handle it better than other first sopranos.

d) IT'S A VOICE PART IN A CHOIR! It does NOT mean that all of a sudden your dreams of being a coloratura or a prima donna at the Met are crushed to pieces. It means that for a semester you'll be singing in a lower range. That's it.

People seem to take everything so personally. They see what they THINK is the best position and assume they should be in that position. Maybe they should be in that position, but maybe they are where they are now because they have to pay some dues and work up to that position. Maybe it's a learning experience. Maybe it's a challenge. Whatever it is, it's all that you have and you should make the best of the situation.

The only thing you can accomplish by complaining so much is alienating yourself from other people. I'm not saying all complaining is bad. Everyone needs to complain now and then. It's a release. But please, complain to the people who will still love you at the end of the day regardless of whether or not you're being a complete diva. Don't complain to people you met five minutes ago who now feel that you are a person to be avoided.

Annnnd I'm off my soapbox. Sorry about that. I just needed to complain. ;)