C.S. Lewis once said that “friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one.”

Nowadays, friendship is often born in the mutual hatred of something. People love to whine about all things, from celebrities and politicians to websites and clothing styles.

In fact, complaining has become a staple of the American culture. In under ten seconds and 140 characters, anyone can become an authority on anything, and easily  broadcast their opinion on a virtual megaphone.

With complaints, critiques, and whining pouring in at exponential rates, finding something to get excited about without being criticized is almost unheard of anymore.

Online, the few who become fans of a band or a TV show more often than not experience backlash just for the crime of being happy about something. Internet “trolls” spend their days in YouTube comments or on Reddit forums to decry a fandom or a song they personally dislike.

With the anonymity provided by the internet combined with this critical, modern mindset, it is no wonder we live in a society of cyberbullying, depression, and pessimism. In Modern America, cynicism is king.

What do we do?

I would like to naively tell everyone to think positively, to like something for once–but that seems to be the start of a solution to a problem. Just not complaining.

What if we lived in a world where we got excited about things again? What if we remembered that we can dislike something without ruining it for others?

According to author and self-proclaimmed “nerd” John Green, one way we can fight this pessimistic worldview is by falling in love with life again. “Nerds like us are allowed to be unironically enthusiastic about stuff. Nerds are allowed to love stuff. When people call people nerds, mostly what they are saying is, ‘You are too enthusiastic about the miracle of human consciousness.’”

Complaining may be easier than searching for something positive, just as making fun of a new idea or fad may be considered cooler than becoming excited about it. But like John Green said, why can’t we get “unironically enthusiastic about stuff” again?

If one negative voice spreads a grumbling attitude, a positive one can be like a breath of fresh air.

It turns out that criticism may be bad for your brain as well as for your own happiness. A study in Trevor Blake’s book Three Simple Steps: A Map to Success in Business and Life, studies show that too much exposure to negativity ‘peels away neurons in the brain’s hippocampus.’ “That’s the part of your bain you need for problem solving. Basically, it turns your bain to mush,” said Blake, quoted in an Inc.com article.

That being said, in my own life, I am still the Queen of the Critical. I aspire to be a movie critic someday, and I struggle with the balance between pointing out a flaw in a film and being destructive for humors sake. As I began to write this article, however, I became acutely aware of my own negative attitude.

I had a bad day, but with my article in the back of my mind, I attempted to hold back when asked about what had happened that day. I refused to let the disappointing morning hang over my head like a storm cloud, and for once I chose to look forward to something good than to reflect on bad events.

By three o’clock, it was as if my terrible morning had never happened. Focusing on the next class, on the joke to share with my friends, on my favorite song to sing in choir was enough of a push to keep me from dwelling on the normally complaint-worthy morning.

That being said, I was not cured of my grumbling nature. But a little perspective–the idea that my attitude would greatly effect that of others around me–did provide a more positive day for me.

So let’s be excited again. Let’s be optimistic again. There are problems in the world, there are problems at Westminster and even in our own hearts. Passive-aggresive tweets and whining may help us feel better for a moment, but before long, something else becomes the subject of our complaints.

A little positive text or note can go a long way. Even the smallest boost can turn someone’s day around. With our 140 characters, let’s say something kind, share something exciting, find a positive side to a negative situation. Who knows… if one person can make our community feel a little safer, what will happen when dozens do?