My inner dialogue usually sounds something like this in the morning:

"Ugh. Is it really only Wednesday?" "I'm never buying button-downs that need to be ironed ever again." "Why can't men put a dish in the dishwasher correctly?" "My manicure survived a whole six hours before chipping." "Man wearing the giant backpack and standing in the doorway, please take it off so that other people can actually fit on the bus."

And that's just before 10 a.m.

But what if all my angst was set to music instead of bottled up in my mind? While it would probably give everyone around me something else to complain about (seeing as I can't carry a tune), all that whining might sound good en masse. At least that's what two Finnish artists, Tellervo Kalleinen and Oliver Kochta-Kalleinen, thought when they came up with the genius idea to turn everyday grievances into lyrics for "complaint choirs." Complaints, according to the founders, have the power to generate change and create bonds between people [as reported by BrainPickings.com]. And no matter what language or culture you come from, griping is inevitably a part of it—choirs are popping up all over the globe from Tokyo to Philadelphia. It seems that singing about stress not only relieves it, but it helps both those that take part (and those that just listen) feel a little less alone when dealing with the challenges (a crappy job market, annoying neighbors, rain without an umbrella) that life throws our way on a daily basis.

There are many reasons to rant, but joining a choir (like the Chicago-based one above) might be the best one yet. Click here to listen to more choirs (and complaints).

Keep Reading
Martha Beck's Anti-Complain Campaign
Are you a downer?