October 2013: From the Director's Chair

In his book Quitter Jon Acuff says, "If you demonize your day job, it becomes a prison you try to escape from..." The more I thought about this quote, I realized that the sentiment applies to almost everything or everyone you demonize or complain about.

What aspect of your life are you complaining about? Your job or family, politics, young people, old people, lack of time, lack of education, bad drivers, etc.? The more you complain, the more you build a prison from which you long to escape. Escape comes in many forms: watching television, playing video games, addictions to drugs, alcohol, or food. 

If you constantly complain about a lack of time, maybe you are trying to escape from the prison of an over-scheduled life or a life that isn't fulfilling your dreams. If you complain about a particular political party, philosophy, or law, perhaps you are creating a world from which you want to escape? Do you dream of living in a different country, state, or culture?

Do you complain/demonize your family members or friends? Does this make your residence not a home but a prison from which you escape to bars or get lost in television to isolate yourself?

If what you are complaining about or demonizing does in fact create prisons in your life, only you can decide to tear those prisons down. By learning new skills such as time management, by educating yourself on varying points of view, by understanding different personalities, by developing better communication skills, you will be able to find positive ways of changing your attitude and the prisons in your life will disappear.

You can find materials both in print and electronic formats in the library that will make this transition from complaining to doing easier. During October, look at what you are complaining about or demonizing most. What prisons are you building for yourself? Start demolishing those prison walls and this month of harvests, Halloween, and hibernation can become the month of hope and healing.