Fifty-one years ago last week, Oscar the Grouch made his debut on Sesame Street. To commemorate the event, October 15 is now recognized as National Grouch Day—a date for all grouches to celebrate their way of life.
According to the holiday’s website, a grouch is “an eccentric creature that loves to complain and is happiest when someone can share their misery.” Grouches are cantankerous malcontents. Sound redundant? It was meant to be.
I posted a photo of Oscar the Grouch on my social media pages on Thursday, accompanied by the following text: Today is #NationalGrouchDay! (Remember: Good teammates are never grouchy…don’t give in!)
I thought the post to be apropos. Someone later messaged me that “Everybody feels grouchy now and then.”
I’m not a fan of “Everybody… “ assessments, like Everybody has flaws or Everybody has fears or Everybody has skeletons in their closet. Those sorts of extreme statements usually have exceptions. And though sometimes intended to provide solace, they are more often than not used as justification for unacceptable behavior.
In this instance, however, I concede that everybody does occasionally feel grouchy.
When Oscar the Grouch made his Sesame Street debut, he was orange instead of green. His first on-camera words were: “Don’t bang on my can.” He then proceeded to unleash a slew of unpleasantries on his human visitors before rudely declaring: “Close my can, would you? You’re letting all the fresh air and sunlight in. Boy, I hate that.”
Oscar the Grouch’s surly disposition is markedly different than that of his Sesame Street neighbor, Big Bird. Their personalities are practically polar opposites. Big Bird is kind, friendly, and welcoming. He is inquisitive and takes an interest in others’ lives. He makes friends easily.
Surprisingly, Big Bird’s first on-camera words were not that much different than Oscar’s. When Big Bird first comes on the screen, he crashes into an alley door and complains, “Silly door. Always in my way.”
His demeanor immediately changes when he sees Gordon and Sally—the same humans who tried to interact with Oscar—standing in the street. Big Bird conquers his unhappy feelings and greets his guests with enthusiasm. He prioritizes their need to be greeted over his negative response to crashing into the door.
Feeling grouchy and acting grouchy are two different entities. How we respond to our grouchy feelings shapes our relationships. Good teammates set their grouchiness aside for the betterment of their team. They project the emotions their team needs over their instinctive reactions.
Interestingly, and also ironically, the late Caroll Spinney provided the voice and puppeteering for both Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. Perhaps his presence in both characters is symbolic of our option to choose the type of teammate we want to be.
We can choose selfishness and be like Oscar the Grouch. Or, we can choose selflessness and be like Big Bird.
As always…Good teammates care. Good teammates share. Good teammates listen. Go be a good teammate.
