Why We Have No Real Reason to Complain

Let’s walk a few miles in different shoes.

It was a week after the Government called for the second lockdown in Bangalore. During the lockdown, thanks to Zoom, Facetime, and other modern technology applications, my friends and family were able to stay in touch. When WeWork decided to open its doors for members, some of us decided to start going to work as though nothing had happened.

We would be careful and take all precautions necessary — but would not let the situation overwhelm us.

We decided to start on Monday. After some new pleasantries involving fist bumps, we sat down to chat over coffee. The conversation revolved around how uncomfortable COVID had made our lives. Everyone had complaints about having to help out with the dishes, walking down to the market, getting groceries, and being caught in the war between wife and mother. The list was endless. Everyone made their story seem as though it were the end of the world. The complaining that happened on the first few days helped ease some of the pent-up pressure.

A week later, my daughter and I found ourselves hungry at around 5pm in the evening. We decided to step out to the Darshini (a South Indian Cafe) opposite our office. As we were entering, a small girl was standing outside watching the people that were going in and out. She did not ask anyone for money. I walked up to her and asked her if she would like something to eat. She replied in the affirmative. So, we took her along with us and asked her what she would like to eat. She said that she would like a Dosa (a South Indian pancake). I told the waiter to get something for us and a Dosa for the girl. The girl nudged me and said that she would like the Dosa packed so that she could take it home and share it with her mother. I told her not to worry, and that she could eat a Dosa now and have another one packed for her mother. Her smile was worth a fortune.

Our food came, and I asked the girl what she was doing now; she had mentioned that she used to go to school, but her mother lost her job because of the lockdown. She and her mother would eat one meal a day because that was all they could afford from their savings. Her mother had gotten a part-time domestic job in the building next door that very day, and she was waiting for her to finish so that they could go home together.

There was no complaining about anything. She was enjoying her food, and when the parcel came for her mother, she was delighted. My daughter and I were moved by this girl’s story. When we finished our food, I gave her some money and told her to give it to her mother. What the girl said next made me feel ashamed.

She said, “Uncle, you have fed me and have also given me food for my mother; what is the need for money?”.

In that moment, I felt that I was the poor one, not her. I gave her the money and walked away, feeling ashamed because I had so much and yet, unlike her, I was complaining.

Duryodhana said to Lord Krishna, “There is no way I will give the Pandavas even an inch of land. If it means war, then so be it.”

We are all like Duryodhana; we have more than we need. We are blessed with health, home, healthy children, money in the bank. The list of blessings is endless. Yet, we look for reasons to rant and complain.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION

The next time you complain about something that makes you uncomfortable, something that is not perfect or as per your expectations, remember the young girl. She had every reason to complain but instead, she was appreciative.

Try being more appreciative of everything that you have instead of complaining and see how the quality of your life changes.

If we continue to complain about the small things, we should only be ashamed of our selves. If we don’t learn, then maybe the man upstairs will give us a real reason to do so.

Ajay Ushakanth is a guest writer here on the Masterlife blog and is also a Masterlife Expert.

A former businessman who teaches the Vedas to budding entrepreneurs in Bengaluru, out of a co-working hub, Ajay has become an unlikely member of the rapidly-burgeoning gig economy.

He now imparts his learnings to others and has helped people across all spheres of life and work.

You can access all modules of his course: Become More Spiritual on the Masterlife app.