Thursday, April 2, 2009

Just Don't Bitch


When I was in South America last Spring, we travelled like rock stars for about five days. A different hotel every night. Up at 4am. To bed around 11pm. And extremely full days of traveling and sightseeing.

We arrived at Cusco, Peru just in time to find some dinner and get to bed. The next morning at 4am, we took a taxi to the train terminal. We rode the train to Agua Caliente, Peru and then the buses up to Machu Picchu. We trudged up and around the mountain for 3 hours in the rain, getting completely soaked to the skin. Rode the buses back down, took the train another little town ONLY to get into an overnight bus to ride 14 hours soaking wet and not sleep next to my uncle who had obviously had too many beans that day.

About an hour into that bus ride, I thought that I would explode. If my girlfriend had been there, she would have gotten an earful of bitching. But I couldn't do that with my uncles and aunt. They wouldn't tolerate it. I'd never be invited to travel with them again and forevermore would have been considered an ass to travel with.

And so, I sucked it up. I was miserable. I needed a bath, a good night's sleep and a hug from my love. But none of that was going to happen. Not for another week.

Right then, I figured out that no one wants to hear me bitch or complain. And I don't want to hear them. I know that may seem harsh when the going gets tough, but it's just the truth.

Shut up and suck it up. Find the damn silver lining.

29 comments:

Anonymous said...

lol...you certainly have to have a different mind set when traveling in other countries. I remind myself to relax, have very minimal expectations, stay flexible and open for new experiences, and as long as I have a bottle of water and my handy roll of camping TP paper in my daypack, it's all good. (that got me through a month in India!)

none said...

That is a good way to look at things. most people cannot exhibit such self control.

I save all my bitching for the blog.

I like people to laugh at my distress

Akelamalu said...

It was worth it for what you saw though wasn't it? Machu Pitchu - I have to go there someday!

Deb said...

Well, not when I'm sick! I am a BIG baby. But you're absolutely right. If you're around negative people, it rubs off and basically, you'll end up with very few friends and family not wanting to spend a whole lotta' time with you. I know a friend of mine, who I can only handle in small doses. But once in a while, vent...in a healthy way. ;) Nothing wrong with a little cheese with your whine.

Cheers!

Anndi said...

I think we're all allowed an occasional "free to bitch" pass... but some people are stealing mine and I want em back, daggummitt.

Anonymous said...

I can't stand complainers. I mean we all have a bad day here and there and it's ok to vent but you don't need to complain 24/7 do ya?

Good post.

Jeanne Estridge said...

I'm bookmarking this post and emailing it out, like a silver crucifix, as necessary in the future.

Jormengrund said...

Great show of self-control RLL.

Myself, I might have been a bit short with the conversation or something, as I tend to let my feelings show, regardless of how I _should_ behave.

At times it's a blessing, but more often than not it's a bit of a curse..

Anonymous said...

shut it up and suck it up

words to live by no doubt!

Brad said...

I think I'm going to post that last line on my bathroom mirror.

Great Post!

g-man said...

Some of my favorites:

Suck it up buttercup

Rub some dirt on it and walk it off


and my personal fav

Blow me!

Gary's third pottery blog said...

You said it....

Ken said...

Oh My! I think you hit you the nail on the head. Americans tend to bitch "WAY" more than others while traveling or visiting "OTHER" lands.

(In My Humble Experience)

Dana said...

Can I stomp my feet, close my eyes and throw a temper-tantrum?? No?? Damn silver lining *wink*

C said...

all the adults in my childhood life were smokers. HEAVY smokers and whether in the car, (with the windows up) or home, they lit up one after another. even the fucking nurses at the bedside in the hospital had a cigarette hanging off the lip as they checked ya over. and i have always hated the smoke, the smell, the full ashtrays... every thing about it.
when i read what you said about being "stuck" in an uncomfortable situation, thats when i thought about the smokers. poor chickie poo, it must have been hell for ya. i hope being at machu picchu was worth all that suffering you went through.

C

Scarlet said...

I think you and I may have been separated at birth. Were your folks ever in Cuba??

Fortune Cookies said...

in the words of Ani:
"maybe you don't like your job
maybe you didn't get enough sleep
well, nobody likes their job
nobody got enough sleep
maybe you just had
the worst day of your life
but, you know, there's no escape
and there's no excuse
so just suck up and be nice"

I can fall into the bitch and moan trap pretty easily. I'm with Jeanne, bookmarking this post for future reference. God knows I can use the reminder!

Lu' said...

I wasn't bitchin just saying is all... I think to talk about a gripe is OK but to harp on it or dwell on it that is when it is too much. There always is a silver lining isn't there, always.

Cloudia said...

Good for you!
Aloha-

Gina said...

Are you trying to tell me you hated my bitchy post yesterday? ;)

Tuesday Taylor said...

An Oprah ah-ha moment! It actually is a pretty empowering thought, and I am going to try it out on my ungrateful, constantly complaining spawn after school!

dguzman said...

Fine, I'll stop! Sheesh! Hmph.

Furry Bottoms said...

Hi there! I am here by way of CRAZED MIND. Your title is a real attention grabber! I had to come here and investigate-- and I have been sucked in by your sense of humor. I'm going to be doing more sucking it up in the days ahead! Thank you for the slap in the face (in a good way)

King of New York Hacks said...

I've been there RLL, sometimes there is no way out like the time My Uncle had to many beans and ripped the "silver lining" in his shorts . Kismet, can't fight it sometimes ! LOL !!!

Candy's daily Dandy said...

"Shut up and suck it up" I love the wisdom of those words.

Vinny "Bond" Marini said...

See...you held in in and let it explode for us...because we love you no matter what

Unknown said...

If I could find "No bitching pills", I would sneak them in my husbands scotch, every. single. night.

Vixen said...

I don't do 2 things- pity parties or guilt trips.

Unless it's my husband or my best friends. I make exceptions. Bc everyone needs *someone* to vent to occasionally.

But I'm def all for seeing the silver lining. But also getting to a point where you have to stop bitching and like FIX it. LOL

I love that poster btw, I have it in my kitchen. *snort*

nitebyrd said...

Excellent advice!