By: Frank James
The act of complaining is one that everyone practices. The need to tell someone, anyone, about an issue that vexes you seems to be a human trait. If a person took the time to count how many people complain to them in a day, the number may go well past twenty. The one thing that people need to realize is, “No one wants to hear your complaints.”
You get to work, and are feeling good. You may even be feeling like you can conquer the world. That feeling soon evaporates when a co-worker comes up to you venting their frustrations about the job. Their issues may be ones that are similar to the conditions you work in, but have not affected you. Yet, being the great co-worker you are, you listen. Once the person has left you find your positive vibe gone. The energy you had to conquer the day has been replaced with a miasma of thoughts/energy that brings a frown to your face. Now, the bright day at the job has turned into a burden at a hell hole. People, you have to stop listening to co-worker complaints.
The workplace isn’t the only place where you run into people complaining. You get off work and stop by a restaurant/bar to have something to eat. You are sitting at the bar drinking a beverage when someone sits next to you. The usual start of a conversation is hello, or whatever passes for a salutation. Not long into the conversation, unless it is a come on, you can believe the other person will start complaining about something. If the television is playing, the person will voice something negative about what is on the screen. Don’t let it be a news story dealing with government issues. You will get an earful about how awful the country is being run. If it’s sports, you will hear every complaint about the person’s favorite team going back twenty years. What was supposed to be a relaxing pit stop on the way home has become a way station to Hades. When the previous scenario happens to you, go sit in a booth and enjoy your drink/meal.
Married people, or people who are shacking, pay attention. Home should be a rest haven where you can relax and take the world off. In most situations this isn’t the case. Home is where you run into complaints disguised as conversation from your other half. Before you can take off your shoes your partner is telling you about the issues they faced on their job. You feel obligated to listen and feel sympathy to their problems. If you had a great day, you may even keep this to yourself to avoid unconscious envy from your better half. Complaining spouses/lovers are one of the key reasons divorce, and sadly domestic violence, happens. When your spouse/lover begins to complain about anything, kiss them lightly and say, “That is outside our house. Don’t bring it in here. Let’s relax and enjoy silence.”
Parents in 2026, I feel for you. Many children only interact verbally with their parents when they are either complaining about something/someone, or asking for something. I understand why many parents give their pre-school children cell phones to keep them busy. If the only time that I had conversations with my child was when they wanted something, or was complaining, I’d give them an iPhone too. Parents, take time to explain to your children that you are more than a check book, or whining wall. Let them know you are there for them when it is something worth you taking a hand in. You love them, but also love your sanity.
Stop listening to the complaints and whining of the world. Keep control of how your mind works by screening other people’s issues out of your thoughts. Enjoy life because in truth, it is all you have.
Frank James IV © 2026
beingfrankwithfrank@gmail.com
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the writer and not of the Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper or HT Group, LLC, its staff or management. “Being Frank” is a bi-weekly column exclusive to the Milwaukee Times Weekly Newspaper.
