This week’s article has as much to do with art as it does walleye fishing, coffee shops, bars, alternative energy, cloudy skies, strip clubs, school levies, the East Side or the Old West End.

I learned a long time ago in a galaxy far far away, if you don’t have something nice to say … then shut your mouth. That, along with a firm handshake, looking someone in the eye when I’m speaking sincere and giving credit where credit is do are truisms that I try to live by.

Save yourself some frustration and drop some of that dead weight this summer; leave the complainers and pessimists to their own devices. Surround yourself with folks who are sincere in their daily approach. Let the Dick and Debbie Downers enjoy their loathsome lonely selves by themselves and let them know why. You don’t need it.

The negativity and complaints of “there is nothing to do,” “this town sucks,” “I wanna move”, “there are no opportunities here,” “I’m bored,” blah blah blah … all of this is unwelcome in my circle of friends and I like it  like that. These constant/consistent complaints can become, for all intents and purposes, emotionally and mentally abusive. Shedding the responsibility of feeling as though you somehow need to console your friends (or even family) is a rewarding sensation.

Doing so will free you up to spend your karmatic currency elsewhere, on more fruitful endeavors while increasing your interest rate exponentially.

Don’t be a jerk, just show some conviction. Don’t be negative just question them as often as they mention whatever mucky bog it is that they want you to join them in. Feel strongly about your stance and speak about what you know. Which could very simply be that you like living in Toledo, you like living in a city where you don’t have to work three jobs to make your rent, you enjoy the laid back mentality and local businesses you frequent where people know your name and appreciate your business as much as you appreciate them being there.

There are many ways to make your point to a naysayer. Honest conviction is a necessity, however.

I understand the fact that there are a lot of people that are simply negative no matter what and no matter how hard you try there is unfortunately no possible words to keep them from simply talking shit about everything around them.

To that I say, cut them loose from their own noose and encourage them to do something to counter their bitch of the day.

Show them some love, your love for Toledo, what it is you appreciate.

Lead by example, as they say.

Lastly, keep yourself in check … if you’re reading this and the only thing going through your mind is the belief that I’m some hypocritical bitcher bitching about bitchers … you missed the  entire point.

Constructive criticism is a whole other ball of wax which should not be taken personally or digested wholeheartedly, perhaps simply contemplated and used as a tool of sorts to draw your own conclusions. I can hold nothing against someone who wants to move or experience other things.

I do, however, have something against people who voice shallow complaints about their situation and preach about how moving away is the key they’re looking for or even worse, they don’t consider how to make their situation any better. That is the point I guess: quit your bitch.

Jerry Gray is an artist, writer, vocalist, bartender, gallery owner and advocate of the Toledo Potential, which promotes the retaining and featuring of artistic talent and culture in our city.

Tags: Uni-Brow

This entry was posted on Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 at 3:31 pm and is filed under Star, Unibrow.
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