Cynicism Robs Joy
My name is Blake Mankin and I am a recovering modern cynic.
It’s been a long time coming, let me tell you.
Up until this semester of college I would say that I allowed myself to live the disheartening life of bitter modern cynicism for about a year. Modern cynicism is a nasty disease that slowly invades the soul and permeates the mind.
The dictionary defines modern cynicism as “bitterly or sneeringly distrustful, contemptuous, or pessimistic.” That pretty much sums up a huge chunk of my recent past.
Modern cynicism comes dressed as a wolf in sheep’s skin. It is so attractive yet so devastating. It is like taking a bite of forbidden fruit and then having it never digest. It allows us to believe we are right while we bitterly view those closest to us as being wrong. It allows us to think we hold truth while we bitterly hold distaste for authority.
I bargained with cynicism only to realize that I got the short end of the stick. Becoming a cynic requires giving up joy in exchange for bitterness. It requires trading love for distaste. It requires giving up the ability to be kind for the inability to be gracious.
Cynicism made me view people’s dreams as illegitimate.
Cynicism made me feel depressed.
Cynicism made me lose sight of hope.
Cynicism made me lose all trust.
Cynicism. And joy cannot exist in the same sentence.
Let G-d soften our hearts as we surrender our control and seek Joy!
Let me tell you, cynicism is the most deadly of diseases.