I was in a shop today, and I overheard a conversation. It was a predictable conversation, with lots of generic whining and grumping about the Current State of Affairs vis a vis politics, with the consensus opinion of the proprietor and the customer being about what you would expect.
Don’t do that.
Yes, “they” (whoever they are at the moment) are misguided, corrupt, and self-centered.
Yes, “they” do stupid things, knowing that they are doing stupid things as they are doing them.
Yes, some of the “they” crowd actively hate your guts and want you to submit, or worse.
So what? That’s out of your control.
You have principles. If you don’t, you are as bad as “they” are. If you don’t have principles, you are as bendable as “they” are. You can be, and are, bent to think one way or the other.
Do not be a whiner. Stand by your principles. Be a rock, immovable.
Whining and feeling sorry for yourself is a loser’s game. Why abandon principle for the softer path of commiseration with a like-minded loser?
You can act on your principles. Even if you think it’s a waste of time. Even if you think you’re doomed to failure, that the enemy is too strong.
Truth takes a stand. We take our stand where we find ourselves, and fight for our principles.
Perhaps that like-minded soul will, like you, find his inner resource of courage and join you. Better that he join you in action than you join him in impotent and covert whining.
Perhaps together you are victorious. Perhaps together you both fall at Thermopylae and others carry on the fight.
Know what is true and right. Stand for it.
And for God’s sake stop whining. Nothing was ever built by complaining. Only building builds. If you want something, build it.