This is a habit opposed to cheerfulness, and producing contrary results.
It is half-sister to scolding, and equally as obnoxious. Don't fret and
whine. It makes you look old and cross. The disease soon becomes chronic
if indulged in. It is a disease that not only the doctors know at sight,
but every one can read it in the face of those thus afflicted. "O, what a
cross face that lady has got!" I heard another female exclaim but
yesterday, as they passed on the street. You cannot hide it; then don't
induce such a look.
Somebody has written the following, which so completely expresses my ideas
of the matter, that I quote the item verbatim:--
"There is a class of persons in this world, by no means small, whose
prominent peculiarity is whining. They whine because they are poor; or, if
rich, because they have no health to enjoy their riches; they whine
because it is too shiny; they whine because it is too rainy; they whine
because they have 'no luck,' and others' prosperity exceeds theirs; they
whine because some friends have died, and they are still living; they
whine because they have aches and pains, and they have aches and pains
because they whine, no one can tell why.
"Now, we would like to say a word to these whining persons. Stop whining.
It's of no use, this everlasting complaining, fretting, fault-finding,
scolding, and whining. Why, you are the most deluded set of creatures that
ever lived.
"Do you not know that it is a well-settled principle of physiology and
common sense that these habits are more exhausting to nervous vitality
than almost any other violation of physiological law? And do you not know
that life is pretty much what you make it and take it? You can make it
bright and sunshiny, or you can make it dark and shadowy. This life is
only meant to discipline us, to fit us for a higher and nobler state of
being. Then stop whining and fretting, and go on your way rejoicing."