FRAZIER: Bulldogs, the complain train and happiness

Published 4:00 am Saturday, October 2, 2021

I attended the Mississippi State University-Louisiana State University football game last weekend. 

It was hot as hades and my alma mater lost. State managed to rally in the fourth quarter, but it wasn’t enough for a win. 

At least the referees were honest at this game. 

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It’s beginning to look like MSU may have a dreary looking season — hopefully, things will turn around, but if they don’t as my son said, “We won the national championship in baseball.” 

His statement was not to brag or even belittle the football team. He was making the point of how we should embrace the positive and not dwell on the negatives. 

This is a good way to think about life in general. All too often, I jump on the Complain Train — sometimes even becoming a Henny Penny. 

It’s easy to do in this political climate. 

In some instances, I guess I am no better than the negative ninnies who live in our community and bad-mouth where they live. Sometimes I wish I could be “little rabbit foo-foo” and bop them on the head! 

I guess that goes for me, too, when I fail to embrace all that our country does provide. 

Ironically, this week, I was reading something that had a message very similar to the one my son was implying when he referenced the athletic success garnered by MSU.  

The author talked about a survey done by “USA Today.” He said successful people were asked, “Which came first: success or happiness?”  

The majority, 65 percent, of those who responded said it had been happiness that had led to their success. 

Well, that was an eye-opener. If you are happy, you can become successful. Sad to say, I have probably thrown a lot of success I could have had down the drain, all because I was bellyaching. 

The author went on to say that because happiness is something that comes from the “inside out — not something that happens to you,” you get to control your outcome. 

Wow, while I can’t control a dysfunctional congress or make others look at Vicksburg in a better light, I can control me. The author concluded, “Happiness is mine because I choose it. My inner peace draws good to me.”  

I think I will choose happiness. And who knows, maybe the Dawgs will find some happiness that could lead to success. 

About Terri Cowart Frazier

Terri Frazier was born in Cleveland. Shortly afterward, the family moved to Vicksburg. She is a part-time reporter at The Vicksburg Post and is the editor of the Vicksburg Living Magazine, which has been awarded First Place by the Mississippi Press Association. She has also been the recipient of a First Place award in the MPA’s Better Newspaper Contest’s editorial division for the “Best Feature Story.”

Terri graduated from Warren Central High School and Mississippi State University where she received a bachelor’s degree in communications with an emphasis in public relations.

Prior to coming to work at The Post a little more than 10 years ago, she did some freelancing at the Jackson Free Press. But for most of her life, she enjoyed being a full-time stay at home mom.

Terri is a member of the Crawford Street United Methodist Church. She is a lifetime member of the Vicksburg Junior Auxiliary and is a past member of the Sampler Antique Club and Town and Country Garden Club. She is married to Dr. Walter Frazier.

“From staying informed with local governmental issues to hearing the stories of its people, a hometown newspaper is vital to a community. I have felt privileged to be part of a dedicated team at The Post throughout my tenure and hope that with theirs and with local support, I will be able to continue to grow and hone in on my skills as I help share the stories in Vicksburg. When asked what I like most about my job, my answer is always ‘the people.’

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