No Bitching for 30 Days

      I woke up this morning thinking about this summer.  I guess I woke up thinking about summer because I know it's far behind us now and that the next season is winter (ugh!). I thought back on how Matt and I were living in New Hampshire and even a New Hampshire summer is better than no summer at all. During the summer, I would go to the pool almost every day.  The pool wasn't too far from our front door which was nice.  Because I would go to the pool in the middle of the day, there weren't many (as in any) women my age.  There were older women that would be there with their grand kids or middle aged stay at home moms.  I would do my best to make small talk when I first got to the pool and then I would find a lounge chair.  I would lay back, put my sunglasses on, and eavesdrop on other people's conversations. What? It's not like you've never done that before!

       This morning, I remembered one particular conversation that I over heard. It wasn't hard to over hear because the women were talking so loud! Please conjure up your best New Hampshire accent as you read this conversation:

"Reida, oh my gad! I hafta tellya somethin'! Yestaday there wasa lady here! Reida, I swear ta gad she was awearin' tha most ungadly bathin' suit eva! It was way too small fa' her!"

"Oh ma gad! I know whoya talkin' 'bout! She's big asa whale! Tha bathin' suit is blue, right Teresa?"

*Giggles*
*Snorting*

"Yeah! She looks like somekinda whale alright! I thought she was gonna fall right outta all that blue! Swear to gad they woulda hadta scrape me offtha floor!"

*Giggles*
*Snorting*
*High pitched giggles*
*Snorting*
*Coughing*
*Giggles*

      Soon after that, I couldn't handle pool side drama anymore. I got my things and went home.  Remembering that story reminded me of how mean women are! We can be so mean! We're ruthless when it comes to trashing other women.  We can be really mean and do a lot of damage without ever looking like The Hulk. We can actually still look cute when being mean.  It's a snide comment here and there.

     I'm proposing 'No Bitching for 30 Days'. 30 whole days of thinking twice (sometimes five times) before talking.  You can join me in this if you want. If not, that's ok too.  'No Bitching for 30 Days' looks a little like this:

*30 Days of not gossiping. NONE! Get your facts straight before you form an opinion on some one else's life!

*30 Days of not disguising gossip with prayer. "Well, she told me not to tell anyone,  but I'll tell you because I know you'll pray for her." BITCH! We all know that nobody is praying for her.

*30 Days of not complaining about your mom, sisters, and female in-laws!

*30 Days of choosing encouraging words instead of hurtful ones.

*30 Days of letting women dress how they want without giving your opinion verbally or mentally. It's not like you're getting your fashion sense from Vogue anyway!

*30 Days of taking up for another woman in a conversation that is at her expense.

*30 Days of not butting in on another woman's financial situation, relationship, health, wardrobe, and personal life only to share it with someone else.

*30 Days of being honest with another woman when she hurts your feelings instead of bitching about her later.

Who's with me? Day 1 of 'No Bitching for 30 Days' begins now!