Latern in a Malaysian Mall

Getting off the snark express

I’m not normally one for the shiny, happy motivational stuff. But this one struck a chord with me:

Let the cynicism and irony go. They’re ways to sugarcoat bitter disappointment. But their price is steep: settling for mediocrity.

(That’s umair haque, by the way.)

That resonates. That — almost — hurts. There are still many things I want to do professionally and personally, and which I’m avoiding because — well — I’m cynical about my chances of succeeding. And that makes me feel good, but in a twisted way.

A mediocre way.

Which isn’t good at all.

I can’t stop the snark. It’s too much part of who I am. But I can stop turning it inwards so much.

Originally published at www.coffeeandcomplexity.com on September 3, 2016.