When I started “My Year Without Complaining”, I wanted to go 365 days without uttering one word of complaint.

Ha.

I didn’t make it past the first month.  My quest morphed into a plan to learn what constitutes complaint and change my way of living to abandon it.  I faced personal challenges that detracted from my mission but I also found champions and helpers along the way.

Today is the first day of the twenty-fourth month of My Year Without Complaining.  I have not eradicated complaining from my life, but I have come very far.  By the end of this month, I will decide whether to keep blogging about my journey to joy; or change the concept and direction of this blog.

Thank you, my friends and faithful readers, for making this voyage with me.  In the last twenty-three months, I have learned to value fidelity.  I know that having someone stand by you means more than having someone admire you.  Faithfulness counts more than material wealth.  I strive to be as steadfast in my loyalty to you as you are to me — and not just when it is easy — not just when it is convenient.  A port in the storm is still a port; when the storm passes, I will not sail away, but stay to gather the flotsam from the shoreline and make the place beautiful after the ravages of the hurricane.

In this twenty-three-month slog down the crooked cobblestones of my life, I have learned that “not complaining” translates to “living a positive life”.  I can, and do, speak when I see abuse — of me, of people whom I love, of my clients, of strangers by society.  But one can speak without complaining.

I appreciate those who read this blog  to follow my evolution. I especially appreciate those who tell me that something which I have experienced speaks to them.  I blog for two reasons:  First, to hold myself accountable; and second, so that someone else might benefit from the lessons that I learn.

If you’re reading this, and you have something to share with the rest of us, would you consider posting a comment?  Have you tried to live complaint-free?  And succeeded?  Have you decided to embrace joy?  What has been your experience?

I would like to hear from others on this path.  It can be lonely sometimes.

Be well, my friends.  Happy December!