Petty Complaints…

“Though sometimes small evils, like invisible insects, inflict great pains,” said Richard Sharp, “and a single hair may stop a vast machine, yet the chief secret of comfort lies in not suffering trifles to vex us;…” One of the obvious facts we face is that all of us have problems. No man ever lives through life without frustrations, disappointments, difficulties, decisions. Life is a time for learning, and one of the lessons is not to overemphasize annoyances, inconveniences, trivial troubles⎯not to join with the petty complainers. “The restless, anxious, dissatisfied temper, that is ever ready to run and meet care half-way, is fatal to all happiness and peace of mind,” said Samuel Smiles. “If perpetually we carry our burdens about with us they will soon bear us down under their load. …In the presence of a great sorrow, all petty troubles disappear; but we are too ready to take some cherished misery to our bosom, and to pet it there. Very often it is the child of our fancy; and…we indulge this spoiled child of ours until it masters us. We…surround ourselves with gloom. The habit gives a coloring to our life…. Our conversation becomes full of regrets…. We make our breast a storehouse of pain, which we inflict upon ourselves as well as upon others…. How is it that we see men…growing old in harness, working on vigorously to the end?… They have educated themselves in the habit of endurance, of not being easily provoked, of bearing and forbearing, of hearing harsh and even unjust things said of them without indulging in undue resentment, and avoiding…petty and self-tormenting cares…. We have to be on our guard against small troubles, which, by encouraging, we are apt to magnify into great ones.” What we need, it seems, is more concern about serious problems: ignorance, bad habits, lawlessness, falsehood, immorality⎯and not so much of overemphasizing personal inconvenience and petty complaints.