Misanthropy is seductive because it feels like engagement. But the truth is it requires very little of you to snipe from the sidelines. No courage, no conviction, no leadership. Just air forced over vocal cords.

Misanthropy often disguises itself as critique or challenge or prophetic voice in the wilderness. It hides behind a facade of being a truth-speaker. And misanthropes often do speak truth. But truth, like everything powerful, can be used to build or to destroy.

My admiration will always lie with the people who respond to being dealt an unexpected hand by immediately asking, “What is my best play with the cards I’ve got?” We may not be able to make things perfect, but we can always strive to make things better. We just have to care enough—about the cause, the mission, or the people—to try.

Photo by Nastia Petruk on Unsplash