FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE.

I'm quitting my job to take up writing and editing full-time. I'm in my last fifteen days with this company, so I'm guessing people are going to start thinking of farewell gifts, cute cards, probably flowers and chocolates. (I'm pretty sure many of them are even relieved that there are only fifteen days left, but that's another thing.)

So, I got this really nice poster from my counterparts in the USA. It says, "FORTUNE FAVORS THE BRAVE," and there are sweet good luck and goodbye messages from everyone I've met. This is a really nice thing, but it was an initiative driven by a really close friend of mine, Song-my, so it probably doesn't count as an unexpected act of kindness, because, a) she's generally a super-kind person, b) she likes me, and it's inevitable that nice friends think of nice things to do to make you happy.

I was going through the poster, when I noticed something.

Sorry about the bad resolution. Since I'm sure you can't read what's in the circle, here it is:

May the challenges make you smile. 

                                               -Hank

There are so many awesome messages. Why does this short one matter, you ask? 

I don't know a Hank, that's why.

I've never spoken to him, worked with him, or met him. Not even on video conferencing. He's been with the company only for eight weeks on a team I haven't collaborated with ever. I have only ONE mutual friend with him on Facebook. (She was the one who told me who it was.)

Yet he's written arguably the most poetic thing on that poster. Wait - I should say, yet he's written on that poster.

Really nice of you, Hank! I'm smiling already. 

HELLO, GOODBYE.

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Hi,

I start off all my relationships by believing that the other person's a tried and tested jerk. I give people a thousand "nice" points right at the beginning, and laugh while I watch them lose those points with their acts of practiced jerkery.

These days, I just find it easier and less stressful to believe that people are capable of extreme acts of cruelty and selfishness. I like assuming the worst, because that way, I don't have to feel hurt or disappointed.

Till recently, I sincerely believed I was only being a realist and pragmatist, but my friends have started complaining that it is difficult for them to be around me because of all the negative vibes I spread. Apparently I carry a dark cloud with me wherever I go and rain on everyone's parades.

One of my friends went so far as to tell me that I'm "heading towards doom" and that I'm "going in a downward spiral of negativity." (I'm quoting his exact words, and yes, for those who can't believe it, there are people who talk this way.)

So, this blog here is an attempt to recount all the unexpectedly nice things I've seen people do. The world's probably still a mildly decent place to live in, after all. I sometimes find myself surprised by even really small acts of kindness, and I hope to share them all with you. Maybe if I'm surprised enough, I'll become a positive ray of sunshine and go up in an upward spiral of immense joy and mirth?

Yours cynically,

Cynic Extraordinaire

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