EDITORIAL: The Ease of Complaining and the Challenge of Being a Problem Solver

No one in the history of humans has ever needed to be taught how to complain. Many people now use complaining as the immediate response to situations from minor inconveniences to outrageous tragedies and injustices.  

However, the true test of character and capability lies not in how well we can complain, but in how effectively we can devise and implement solutions to the problems that provoke our complaints.

Turn any media source on and soon you will find endless streams of people complaining about other people, politics, money, religious offenses, and cultural outrage. 

And their solutions often lead to problems with more exclusion and punishment and less help for people in need. Taking care of others helps foster community unity and creates positive changes around us.

Take, for instance, a recent incident in Macon, where a business owner responded to a distressing situation with remarkable initiative instead of joining the chorus of complainers (many from outside Macon, by the way) about crime in our fair city. 

13WMAZ reported that several cars were broken into belonged to parents with children in the Ronald McDonald House, an organization that helps families of children dealing with treatment for serious illnesses. 

The typical response many of us might see online would have been to voice outrage, lament that crimes happen, and cast blame around. Yet, one local business owner chose a different path.

Rather than succumbing to the easy route of complaint, Saralyn Collins, of the popular restaurant Grow, saw an opportunity to make a real difference. 

She quickly organized a fundraising effort by selling tasty lasagnas and, within hours, raised over $1,000 for the families who had been victimized. 

While she will now have to make fifty lasagnas (which Collins could easily complain about), multiple families will have one less thing to worry about while going through one of the toughest situations imaginable.

Seeing someone else go through difficult times and just perhaps feeling sympathy, you can choose to do nothing. Or you could find a way to help that person out of their difficult times, even if it is just letting others have a chance to help out.

Collins had just recently helped raise funds for a friend whose injury kept them from being able to work. This local business owner is setting an example for anyone who wants to see things get better for others: complaining or feeling sorry for someone is the least useful response.

Another example of business owners in Middle Georgia stepping up to help is how Carrie and Brandon Lawler (of JBA fame), recently announced online that they would be opening a coffee where Oh Honey Baking Co. occupied such an important part of the Ingleside community and would also be hiring employees from the staff at Oh Honey Baking Co..

It's far simpler to complain than it is to take constructive action. Complaining requires no strategic planning or resource allocation. All you have to do is open your mouth and the complaints will pour out with little effort. 

On the other hand, making a plan and executing it to address a problem is a multifaceted challenge that involves critical thinking, organization, and often collaboration.

This proactive approach is not unique to this case. Around the globe, there are countless examples where individuals or groups faced with adverse situations opted for action over mere complaint. 

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Those who seek to create change are often those who keep their complaints to themselves in favor of crafting and executing possible solutions.

Consider, for example, how community organizers respond to local issues. Instead of simply bemoaning the lack of resources or support, organizations like Depaul USA Macon work tirelessly to secure funding, rally volunteers, and implement programs that address the root challenges they face.

Success hinges not on our ability to complain about the situation but on our skills in overcoming obstacles and driving progress.

In essence, the ease of complaining is a double-edged sword. While it allows individuals to express dissatisfaction and vent frustrations, it does little to advance solutions or resolve underlying issues. 

So, the next time you feel the urge to complain, consider channeling that energy into problem-solving. Evaluate the situation, devise a plan, and take concrete steps to address the issue at hand. 

After all, the ability to complain is common, but the ability to make a meaningful impact is rare and invaluable. 

Thankfully we have many individuals and many local business leaders, like Saralyn Collins, Scott Mitchell (of Bohemian Den and a thousand other projects), and Carrie and Brandon Lawler (JBA) who lead by example and take actions to change situations that many of us would just moan and groan about.

Scott Mitchell (whose Bohemian Den is where Trombone Love recently performed on August's First Friday) has been instrumental in helping others by taking action to create positive change in our communities (Photographer Nate Weeks)

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