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Wow, this is way harder than I thought it would be!

They've arrived! The purple bracelets! (Click back there for the full explanation...). Remember way back in March when I posted on this subject? The purple bracelet craze that was sweeping the country? The one where the preacher from our hometown was being featured on every news and talk show across the country because of his novel concept: QUIT COMPLAINING! His idea was to put the purple bracelet on your wrist in an effort to remind yourself not to complain, gossip or even be catty or sarcastic (I confess, it's that last one that does me in...). Each time you catch yourself with an infraction of one of the "rules", you are to switch the bracelet from one wrist to the other.

Well, I ordered ten of these little gems last March during Lent, figuring they'd arrive in time for me to do a little extra soul searching during a time of year that we Catholics try to do a bit of that anyway. So, let's see, this is one, two, three, four, five, six months later and SHAZAM! They're here! Yes, I know...(picture me with my head hung low...), that's sarcasm.

It turns out that I absolutely can't help myself. The complaining is not so very hard. The gossipping. Even that, I can handle. But the "No Sarcasm" rule? No way, Jose! I am toast on a plate with that one. Stick the fork in me 'cuz' I am done. In just the three short weeks since my bracelets have arrived, I have already determined that there is no way while I am on this planet that I will ever go two or three days (let alone the targeted 21!) producing no sarcasm.

Dry wit is something of a calling card for me and my family. Yes, sometimes to a fault. In my father's case, at times it caused strife in his marriage to our mother. So, I'm familiar with the dangers of the dreaded sarcasm. It's just that it's so...well, so FUN! Coming up with witty comebacks and zingers that make everyone laugh!

So, here's the deal. I have vowed to drastically reduce any complaining. And I am totally curbing the whole gossip thing. But I've decided that the best I can do on the sarcasm deal-i-o is to just be sure that I'm not being caustic or rude. I never want to hurt anyone's feelings (nor have I ever wanted to but probably have - inadvertently), and I am aware that's the risk you run with sarcasm. So, one does have to be careful.

Otherwise, I'm enjoying switching my purple bracelet from wrist to wrist faster than you can say super-calla-fraga-listic...well, you get the idea! It can be a little exhausting (oops, complaint...), but it really does make you aware of what you are doing and the way it effects those around you and even your own mood.

So, on that note, have a complaint free day!