The opposite of love isn't hate, it's indifference
It’s hard to believe that it’s been three years since I moved to New York.. everything seemed like it went by so fast. A lot of exciting things have happened since graduation… I kicked off a career, ran a marathon, made some great friends, and just recently moved into my own place. However, there is one aspect of moving to New York that continues to bother me. And that’s the overwhelming cynicism that seems to be inherent to anyone who has lived in any of the five boroughs for at least a year. Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love being a part of this area. There are many things to do, and no where else in the world can you find a bustling city composed of an amalgam of people with different racial, social, and economic profiles. But lately, I noticed that my character has changed quite a bit; I feel like I’ve become less patient, less trustworthy of others and more cynical in general. For instance, have you ever walked down the street with me? It’s quite a site to be seen… How did this happen? Can it be avoided? How does one become less cynical? Can it be done without being taken advantage of? My mama ain’t raise no fool. To be clear, I don’t mean to mistaken pessimism with cynicism. While there may be some aspect of pessimism in me, it’s not entirely the same. Pessimists expect all things to go wrong, but will be pleasantly surprised when things go right. Cynics believe that nothing can possibly go right and often have a lack of trust for others. And as a result, cynics become impatient, selfish and uncaring. The first two never seemed to bother me as they aren’t anything new, but the third seems to strike a chord. Tim Keller has always said that the opposite of love isn’t hate; it’s indifference. As believers, we’re supposed to be salt and light to this world; but how can you accomplish this when you simply don’t care? Shockingly, I’ve seen this transformation in other people as well, many of whom I would never expect to have this characteristic. I’m not quite sure how to handle this change. I have to say, I’m still a fairly happy person, much more so than I was in college. I’ve even become more laid back, regardless of having a job in a usually-stressful environment. So what should I do? Am I doomed to become a cold-faced New Yorker? Should I move to LI, Jersey or Westchester? Maybe I should start walking around the city with a big smile on my face. Suggestions are welcome - Please email me directly. | 
