The Art of Complaining

I work in a restaurant, so, naturally, I have many occasions to complain: customers, being sent home early because it's dead, co-workers, etc. I try to believe that everything happens for a reason. For instance, when I end up leaving work either very early or very late, I tell myself that this is God's timing that prevents me from getting into a car accident on the way home.

Last night, for instance, I ended up going home after only 2.5 hours of work. I was quite happy to do so (my three tables left me a nice little sum), as I was looking forward to an evening of working on crafts and such. I got a text message from a friend who had a bad feeling about the night. I took the opportunity to say the rosary and prayed for my friend's safety. My friend returned home safely by the end of the night.

However, I managed to get quite a few complaints in before going home last night. I try to remind myself that complaining doesn't achieve any positive results, unless it's vitally necessary to get something off one's chest for fear of later yelling at the wrong person. Still, it's something I'm going to try really hard to work on. I have been granted so many gifts that I should be focusing on being grateful instead.

People say that it takes a month to form a habit. I think bad habits (such as smoking, which is both cool and good-feeling) can be formed much quicker. The "good" habits (flossing one's teeth, stretching after exercise, etc.) probably take about a month. As a recent flossing-convert, I have to agree with the month thing. That being said, since I have vowed to start my resolutions before the occasion of New Year's, I am looking forward to being able to pray the rosary on a daily basis. I believe that it will be very fulfilling in the long run, and am enjoying the process currently.

How are these two related (complaining and saying the rosary)? As a new Catholic, I am still learning about the true process of saying the Rosary. I am reading a little book by St. Louis de Montfort, which is very illuminating. I am aspiring to be more focused on the Mysteries whilst saying my hail marys, but currently I often reflect upon little things from the day (many of which are those things that I like to complain about). With time, I hope to replace the irritating with the more noble, but I accept the fact that I am human and will probably continue to complain about things that do not really matter in the big picture scheme of things.