One of the harsh realities is realizing your character flaws as an adult. I’ve been a chronic complainer for many years of my life. It is the easiest thing to do in most situations. The world is constantly complaining, what does it hurt if one more person does it? The problem with one complaint is how fast they can divide and replicate into a sea of dwelling.
Over the last decade, it has been alarming to see how divided the world has become since I graduated high school. I’ve long tired of reading the press due to the various dark techniques being used to manufacture outrage and sell you shit you don’t need. Taking a look at the modern press nowadays, you still see the same stuff, different day. Talk about how eggs are still good for you and another day how they are bad for you. Explanations from “experts” on why the latest policy is best for humanity, and another day how that policy was a grave mistake.
I’ve become a cynical person in my own regard because of this. I tend to distrust people’s motives and call out their bullshit through complaining. My outlook on life because of this has suffered. That lack of trust has failed to see the inherent goodness of people. That there are still a few who choose to light one candle in the darkness that we continue to curse.
It is no wonder that Plato would dismiss Diogenes who he described as “Socrates gone mad” or Alexander the Great meeting Diogenes and when he asked Diogenes if he desired anything from the powerful ruler, he asked Alexander to get out of his sunlight.
To me, cynicism is an unpleasant way of saying the truth. The truth is never easy to deliver to someone. People often don’t want to hear the truth, because frankly life is easier with not knowing it. But if you see it in another light, cynicism is not realistic or truthful. It is rather quite cowardly because it means you don’t have to try, just like complaining.
Cynicism is more like a flashlight in the darkness. It may help you see what’s there, but it doesn’t make the darkness go away. You know what does make the darkness go away? When you light one candle at a time.
