Life is bigger. It's bigger than you, and you are not me.

("Losing My Religion", REM, 1991)

It starts small, as little jokes that we rationalize away as a way to ease the stress and tension of life.  Then the sarcasm develops a sharper edge and becomes the cause of humorless laughter.  After that one gets used to smiling without feeling any happiness, and the joy of daily life is invisible.  Cynicism is the lens through which life is seen.

Why do we become cynical?  It doesn't achieve anything, help anyone, or accomplish any goal.  In fact, it's really the opposite of all of those things.  It only causes pain.  A child doesn't touch a hot stove twice, so what makes adults continue to be cynical about every major problem in life?

I think it's a faith problem.  Not necessarily a religious faith issue, but a lack of faith in general.  When cynicism has taken over, it's difficult to believe in the good of people, the possibility of improvement in a situation, or any good thing happening in the random way a flat tire or sore throat can occur.  This makes it hard to combat, because you can't just say to yourself, "Have faith!" and suddenly have it.  People have proven repeatedly that they will mess up.  A bad situation can be chronic and very slow to improve.  Good things don't just happen everywhere you turn.

Or do they?

I think the antidote to cynicism is watching a three-year-old share his toys.  Seeing that, I challenge anyone to believe in the worthlessness of all people.  It probably happens every day, too, even though it seems against the nature of the average toddler.  There are anomalies all around us.

The truth is that we are wrong when we are cynical.  We are stacking up all of our negative experiences and pointing them out as proof that everything is dumb and no one cares.  We are excluding every good thing that has ever occurred.  Feeling sorry for yourself may be fun for five minutes, but after that it loses its appeal.  So why not let go of it?  Search for an antidote until you find it.  Look for a nice person who will prove you wrong.

Or just be that person.

There's enough cynicism in the world.  Don't be a part of it.  Please.