'Complaint-Free' effort offers good lesson for us all

Public officials who have been the target of words of criticism written in this space may find it hard to believe, but we have to agree with the concept promoted by a Kansas City church and picked up by Johnny Walker's Church of God in Trenton.

It's the "A Complaint-Free World," campaign, that involves a bright purple rubber bracelet that reminds participants to be grateful for what they have and stop gossiping, criticizing or complaining.

The rules, according to Connie Jo Discoe's story Wednesday, are simple:

1. Start to wear the bracelet on either wrist, and begin to count 21 days.

2. When you catch yourself complaining, gossiping or criticizing, move the bracelet to the other wrist and start over counting 21 days.

3. If you hear someone else who is wearing a bracelet complaining, gossiping or criticizing, you may point out his or her need to switch the bracelet. But if you do, you must move your own bracelet first.

4. Stay with it. It may take many months to attain an uninterrupted string of 21 days.

If you do achieve 21 days, you can contact the organizers at acomplaintfreeworld.org with your name, address and phone number and they'll send you a "Certificate of Happiness."

We're certainly not naive enough to think there's nothing worth criticizing or complaining about, and we certainly won't hesitate to point out changes that we think need to be made.

But on a personal level, there's a lot to be said about keeping a positive attitude -- we all know people who would do well to put on a rubber bracelet.

Oops, it's time to switch wrists again ...