Fake Smile and Big Eyes by Kyle Flood

Everything is just hunky-dory!

A couple days ago, I received a much-appreciated phone call from my dear aunt Karen about my writing. She imparted some constructive criticism. “And try to stay positive,” she concluded, but I didn’t know exactly how to respond to that comment.

It never crosses my mind, whether a subject is positive or negative. I just write to expose simple truths that are never brought to the attention of most people. Most of the time, this critical view tends to challenge the status quo, and this challenge can be perceived in a negative light.

But really, as independent human beings, the only positive progress that can be made against the standing order occurs when we challenge it. The standing order is the one negative thing we must fight against. So my writing and my criticism, despite a tone of dissonance, is my positive recourse against it.

I don’t just want to bemoan undesirable things; I want to challenge them. I want to draw out conflict where conflict is needed to inspire positive change. If all was well, I would have nothing to write about. I would spend my time enjoying a world that I did not need to criticize.

My father gets irritated at my constant criticism. His irritation is perhaps a sign that the standing order suits him quite well. He tells me how life would be miserable if he had to criticize everything. Sometimes I think he truly believes that I would be happier if I stopped criticizing. But in all actuality, my criticism is my pursuit of happiness. It makes me quite bitter when my father, who seeing that the standing order fits him quite well, gets upset with my contention when it does not fit me. I don’t expect him to solve my problems, but a level of compassion is a start.

I think we win a victory for all human beings when we assist those we come to know in their independent struggles, even if we do not share them. So here’s to staying positive, to staying vigilant and standing up for humanity. Here’s to never allowing yourself comfort when the standing order harbors so many terrible things either for you or your neighbor.