Do you wake up on the wrong side of the bed every morning? Would you rather roll your eyes than smile? Does your forehead have permanent wrinkles from all those dirty looks you hand out daily? Well today is your day because it’s National Grouch Day.

National Grouch Day was created by who else but Oscar the Grouch from Sesame Street. Since there is a holiday for pretty much anything else, why not celebrate being grouchy? But what exactly does it take to be considered a real grouch? Everyone has a bad day now and then but a true grouch never gets over it. A grouch doesn’t smile or enjoy the little things in life and he certainly doesn’t laugh or giggle. Not everyone has it in them to be a true grouch, but certain people do and it turns out they might have more in common than their bad attitudes.

According to therapist Julie de Azevedo Hanks, “People are born with constellations of personality traits and dispositions that, when coupled with experience, can lead to a less than agreeable disposition,” she says. “If you have a temperament that is less agreeable than those around you, you may be labeled a grouch just because you’re experiencing life differently.”

So is being a grouch really all that bad? Not unless you feel like it is preventing you from maintaining your relationships with friends and family members. According to experts, many people who are grouchy or pessimistic on a regular basis actually live longer than those who are perky and happy all the time. They are also more likely to work hard to improve themselves.

So whether you see the glass half full or half empty, you can still celebrate National Grouch Day. Grab a friend, a beer and maybe even a trash can and go be your grouchy self.

Image from Wikimedia Commons.