The Frustration Factor

If you follow the “news,” – as do I – there is a lot more to worry about than to be happy about. Let’s first do our worrying. Here are ten things we might want to put on our worry list.

1. Whether or not the President, Vice President, Secretary of State, Attorney General and most everyone heading the executive branch of our Federal government are serving the public interest or simply self-dealing and using their positions to further themselves and their financial backers.

2. Whether global warming is a real and present danger, proceeding unchecked on a course to cause permanent and irreversible harm to the home planet, or if the potential risk is being wildly exaggerated.

3. Whether the economy is basically sound and unlikely to faulter, or if recession and difficult times are just around the corner.

4. Whether immigration is good and adds to the fullness and richness of our culture and economy, or if it is dangerous and threatens our safety and livelihoods.

5. Whether our schools and colleges are successfully educating our children and young people in ways that prepare them for productive lives in the real world, or if those institutions are only raising the literacy of the more affluent and talented children and young people while neglecting the needs and interests of the less affluent and less talented majority.

6. Whether government will halt the deterioration and neglect of our public facilities and lands or continue to ignore their worsening condition.

7. Whether mass killing, community violence, drug - child - and family abuse, and personal danger will continue to fester, or if our governments and communities will come together to act to reduce and perhaps even stop these facts of American life.

8. Whether having enough to eat, a safe place to live, an adequate education, needed healthcare, and life's fundamentals will always be contingent on wealth status, or if someday everyone will get a fair shot at the golden ring.

9. Whether Congress will ever get around to dealing with the real issues and concerns of most people - at least most people I know, or if our politicians will continue to be mostly focused on who will win the next election.

10. Whether our democracy is actually at risk and some people really are above the law, or if all the hubbub is just so much smoke to keep us from noticing that nothing is being done about the things that truly are of concern to me and perhaps to you too.

I'm thinking that it wouldn't be all that difficult to list ten more worries. Your worries are likely not the same as mine, but I have no doubt that you could easily add ten more to your list too. And I haven't even opened the door to the rest of the world where there are plenty more reasons to worry. But for now, let's think about our reasons to be happy. I'm sure I have at least ten.

I definitely like the chance to get out of that worrying space. It just goes to show you that a little news goes a long way -- usually downhill. It will be fun to think of things in the news that make me happy.

1. The Buckeyes are ranked number 4 in today’s college football poll.

2. The unemployment rate is staying low and most everyone who wants a job can have one.

3. Denis the Menace is still in the comics.

4. We both get to have our opinions and points of view and can share them with whomever we want.

5. Next year, we all get to have a say in who gets to be President, and I am pretty sure that my vote will be correctly counted. - Being happy doesn't mean that it isn't possible to be happier.

6. We live in a country where the rule of law determines what happens. Even though I'm not nearly as sure of that as I used to be, I still think that it is truer than not.

Not everyone can be in charge. We certainly know that too many cooks…, too many chiefs…, and the old sayings could be continued. It's a principle that we have all heard and even sometimes take to heart. There are times though, when we seem to forget. Consider this example from my past. Perhaps you have an example of your own.

"Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference," according to Winston Churchill. But if a big difference is a bit more than you want to take on right now, a slightly better attitude is a good place to start.

If perhaps you think that changing your attitude won't really make any difference, consider this from William James. "The greatest discovery of my generation is that a human being can alter his life by altering his attitudes." It's worth mentioning that Norman Vincent Peale agreed. He said, "Change your thoughts and you change your world." Just how much change you want is up to you.

What is stopping you from that attitude change James and Peale think are so important? Mahatma Gandhi had this advice for us, "I will not let anyone walk through my mind with their dirty feet." I think the point is to figure out who in our lives is feeding the attitude we have and making sure their dirty feet are not pulling us in the wrong direction. I suspect that attitudes are contagious and it's pretty easy to be infected by someone else’s bad attitude.

While you are considering even a minor attitude adjustment, it will help to keep the words of Isaac Bashevis Singer in mind, "If you keep on saying things are going to be bad, you have a good chance of becoming a prophet. Will Foley put it a little more succinctly, "The world is full of cactus, but we don't have to sit on it."

I hear you. You are committing to a little attitude shift but don't want to get carried away with this attitude thing. Although no one claims credit for saying it, not majoring in minor things is likely worth at least some consideration. Even so, "If you are not enjoying the journey, you probably won't enjoy the destination." The tip here is pretty simple: "Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out."

Is that you shrugging your shoulders and saying, "Who cares?" As Helen MacInness reminded, "Nothing is interesting if you're not interested." As the old Swedish Proverb suggests, "Those who wish to sing, always find a song," and those who don't, don't. It's that attitude thing all over again.

It was Arthur Christopher Benson who said, "Very often a change of self is needed more than a change of scene." Of course the point is valid; but all things considered, I think going for a change of scene is sometimes a better first choice than undertaking changing ourselves. According to Edward de Bono, "Unhappiness is best defined as the difference between our talents and our expectations." Since you likely conclude that your unhappiness is because "they" just don't appreciate your exceptional talents, moving on may be better than - and is certainly easier than one of those attitude adjustments "they" keep suggesting.

Ralph Marston may have argued that "Excellence is not a skill. It is an attitude," but just who does he think he is anyway? When we are the ones with the skills, others will just have to get over it. Our attitudes are just fine thank you.

Even though I don't know who said it, "It isn't our position but our disposition which makes us happy." As true as that is, I think I still should be the boss. How about you?

The title pretty much sums it up. We all have had to deal with one of those fault finders and finger pointers. It's frustrating sure enough. The podcasting team has a collection of examples for us, just in case they have temporarily slipped our mind.

The title pretty much sums it up. We all have had to deal with one of those fault finders and finger pointers. It's frustrating sure enough. The podcasting team has a collection of examples for us, just in case they have temporarily slipped our mind.

From time to time, it's time to revisit The Friend Factory. This is the time, no matter whether you are eight or eighty. We all need reminded now and then.

Let's let the title stand on its own. Maybe not on Facebook likely covers a lot of things, but here's one I am pretty sure about.

Do you have the key to perfect intimate relationships? The problem is that there are way more than a single key. But having 1 key is a good start. Try this one. It may unlock more than you might expect.

Do you have your answer yet? Are you old yet or is there still time for your future? It's at least worth a listen.

Please press play for two minutes of happy. I am simply sharing “Onion Capers” by Kevin MacLeod and included here under Creative Commons license.

You can find out all about Kevin, his totally terrific music and his other activities and products at https://incompetech.com.