This was written from a US perspective, but there's nothing saying we can't make it an INTERNATIONAL event! How cool would that be?!

The Official Website

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Life not plumpy? Just too bumpy? Don't be grumpy
By ANA VECIANA-SUAREZ
Miami Herald










IS it my imagination or is it truly happening? Have I grown too sensitive or has everyone become too rude?









The National Crank-o-Meter, it seems, is topping the charts. Everyone is mad, and quick retorts — not to mention tempers as short as a hangnail — rule the day. Makes me wonder what happened to all that good will we had toward our fellow man after Sept. 11, when the cruel reminder of life taken for granted nudged us into making nice.









It wasn't so long ago when, instead of leaning on the horn, we signaled a driver in; when, instead of snapping at the sassy 13-year-old, we kissed him good night because, who knows?; when, instead of berating the boss, we jumped to it. No, not so long ago, indeed. And heartwarming while it lasted.











Now, we're just cranky. Angry at traffic. Ticked off at work. Irritated by endless phone calls, a bajillion e-mails, too many interruptions and this ruthless maze we call living. Rage, rage everywhere. We can't go through a week without some report of a fistfight at a checkout counter or a passenger going bonkers in the airport. Smug and self-righteous, some of us like to think we're above it all. We tell ourselves that such lack of self-control demonstrates what my mother would have called "poor breeding."










Don't be so sure. Some of the nicest people snap and break when pressure mounts. And lately, between the news from Iraq and reports from the campaign trail, between long work hours and little time at play, the pressure's been hot and steady. For months I've been noting incidents, large and small, that paint a not-so-pretty picture of what some call a "hurry/worry culture." We appear to be on a societal precipice with the guardrail of civility hanging by two perilously rusty bolts.









Read this not only as a general indictment but also as a mea culpa, too. Just the other night, after a long day of e-mails, phone calls, troubleshooting and two flat tires, I went on the warpath. I growled and snarled at anybody who dared to get close. Funny thing, I felt as if I were "entitled" to my mood. If only it were a rare example.









So it was with a measure of relief and interest that I read about the third annual National Grump Out, scheduled for May 26. Never heard of it? Well, neither had I, until now.









Patterned after such events as the National Smoke Out and TV-Turn Off Week, the Grump Out (www.smilemania.com) urges participants to abstain from being grumpy for 24 hours. One whole day, an interlude brief enough to allow us to return to general crankiness with renewed energy.









The Grump Out, it turns out, was created after Sept. 11 to promote "world peace, harmony and well-being through the simple act of a smile." You don't have to do much — good thing, since I'm already overworked — except wear a smile.









But have you tried smiling during telemarketer phone calls at dinner, lost homework assignments, office reports due yesterday and spouses watching too much television? So, to keep you on task, organizers suggest smile cards, Grumpy Stones, Grump Out Belly Buttons, Smile Breaks and (my favorite) the official Grump Out fruit, a banana. ("Hold it one way and it's a smile. Turn it upside down and it's a frown.")









I know, I know, it sounds corny, but maybe corny is what we, a country of sourpusses, really need. I'm willing to give it a try. It's worth 24 hours of seeing myself not as who I am but as who I would like to be.

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There are some suggestions on the website as to things you can do. But, do any of you have any ideas as well?

If you do do this, let us know what happens!

Remember the game "Frogger" where you had to get the frog across a busy street?! Here's one with sheep (scroll down to the bottom of the page)! Can be a bit addictive, so beware.

Sounds like a good idea!

My coworker thinks so, too. I'm hoping we can get the office to do something fun that day (that would, certainly, be a change in environment! )

And, think of the possibilities. That day, you could pass out Snickers, Hershey's Kisses, and other "happy" candy.

You could wear a button with a smiley face on it.

The "official fruit" of the day is the banana, so you could hand out bananas (they look like smiles!)

This could be kind of fun!

I won a "Grumpy Old Man" contest eight years back when I highlighted my former father-in-law. The local newspaper sponsored the contest when the movie "Grumpy Old Men" came out. He was a nice man, but stuck in an age when courtesy counted and couldn't stand the societal change of waiters and waitresses saying "What can I get you guys?" He was not a "guy," he was a customer and was rightfully used to hearing "sir," and "ma'am."
He lived in an age of deference, when the younger respected the elder; when being older implied wisdom. Not so, today.
The article I wrote about him began a two-year "career" for me, writing a bi-monthly column for the same paper. God bless him. He was special.

This is cool! I am going to have a grump-out day at my daycare! hehehee I'm going have the kids decorate a banana with peanut butter and ? Maybe marshmellos and chocolate chips! We'll eat them for desert and the kids that don't stay for supper can take them home. (I work the night shift!)

Then, I'll continue it on Thursday, just for the smiles! Better write the newletter for this now!

Thanks for sharing this Linda!

I don't know that I'd be any good at Grump Out days. I can manage days without being grumpy but these are usually the ones spent at home. Days other than that involve driving or cycling somewhere, then it's just about impossible to feel kindly towards others all the time. Motorists would probably think I was being facetious if I gave them a friendly wave and a grin just after they've shaved me rather closely when overtaking (especially if they look in the mirror and are good at lip-reading from a distance!).

Also I think I might end up in trouble if I started doing things like smiling at the check-out person in the supermarket and offering a bar of chocolate from my purchases.

Maybe if Grump Out day was rainy I could offer people waiting for a bus a lift into town (since I'm on my way there myself). Hmm ...that sort of courtesy seemed to go out in the early Sixties. People would be likely to call the Police If I tried it days I suppose.

A good concept I suppose but all things considered I think I'd be worried about peoples reactions to my being nice and smiley.

Aww, tellywellies, you might be surprised by people's reactions. I have to tell you a funny thing reaction I had the other day (to my grumpy, well, angry face!)

I'm driving up a small hill near my house. A driver comes speeding around the corner and if he hadn't adjusted quick he would have hit me head-on. I stopped (but wouldn't have been quick enough to stay out of his way) and was shocked. My first reaction was "What ARE you doing??!" and my face showed it. ie angry face! And this is what he said! "Don't look at me like that!!" I was still in shock over almost being hit and then his comment! Oh boy, I wanted to run back after him and say, then don't almost hit me then! Can you imagine this guy's nerve?? I mean, I know I looked angry but gosh!

But maybe the point was my reaction was so fast to be angry and the point of grump out day is to have a different reaction, even if it's not our first one! (he sure made me think about my reaction!)

I do know what you mean about giving rude and dangerous motorists waves, smiles. But I bet you'd get smiles if you smiled at people in grocery store. I do it and joke with people all the time. Okay, so it's my nature but it's a lot more fun to joke than to stand there tapping my foot, worrying how fast the line will move.

How about wishing people a Happy Grump-out day, instead of have a good day kind of greeting?