Cut the Complaining: Day #6

Cut the Complaining. “If you don’t have anything good to say, don’t say anything at all.”

Today in yoga, I was inspired by an older, disabled woman in front of me, whom I’ll call Sandy. She obviously had some mobility and balance issues as well as a very forward leaning posture.  I’m not sure what caused Sandy to be unsteady on her feet or need a walker, but despite these challenges, I watched her follow along, one pose at a time, doing what she could. I never heard her grumble or act frustrated when a pose bumped up against her limitations. Instead, she stayed positive and present for the whole thing.  Of course, I don’t know what was going on inside Sandy’s head. But from my vantage point, she simply seemed happy to be there.

In contrast this to another woman I see in the back of the room yoga often who I’ll call Gladys. I met Gladys when I first joined the gym and popped into a class.  Despite her appearing to be in much better health and shape than Sandy, during that first class, I heard Gladys bemoan her age, the weather, her family, and more. I felt almost immediately sorry I’d shared my name because I knew I did not want to engage in that kind of conversation at all, and definitely not before, during, or after a yoga class.

For a few weeks after that, I’d say hello when I saw Gladys before quickly moving my mat to an area closer to the instructor. Now, I glide past Gladys when she is speaking to others, avoiding the inevitable complaints about whatever, preferring silence and solitude over complaint-filled communication. By comparison, I made sure to speak to Sandy after our class together and probably will again.

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