Dear Readers,

Within every family or friend-circle, there’s usually at least one, if not a couple, of the typical naysayer kinds – the one who lives either in fear or in doubt, of any and everything, and makes sure to blatantly display the same, behind the veil of ‘concern’ and the default response: ‘No!’. They tend to suck the energy out of any excitement and truly believe they are the ‘voice of reason’, when in reality, they are the proverbial wet blankets.

I often interact with our own special, growing breed of ‘community-naysayers’. These are people who contribute pretty much diddly-squat towards the growth or progress of the community and usually keep themselves miles away from any community service activity. The only thing active about them is their mouth, which is in a perpetual state of doling out negativity, critique and lament – even as they shake their heads ruefully, cribbing about how “the community has gone to the dogs,” or how “today’s Parsi youth is selfish and lazy,” or how “Parsi trusts are not doing anything to help us,” and so on.

Any attempts to make them see the positive side of our numerous achievers – young and old – doing us proud or how various community-service oriented institutions have been making a huge difference towards the welfare of the community – are met with a quick and dismissive, ‘No!’. They get even more antagonized, nay aggressive, if you are to ever suggest that they participate in any form of community building or corrective measures.

Arguing with naysayers is a waste of time and energy – giving them an audience only gives them an added platform to continue spreading the negativity. They parade their toxicity as cynicism that is focused on constantly pulling down everything progressive. Here’s a question – how many cynics actually built any empires, or great cities or those giant, powerful corporations? There will be always haters and doubters and non-believers… and then there will be us, proving them wrong – not by debate, but by our deeds… leaving behind all those naysayers amid squeals of “it cannot be done!” and “it should not be done!”

As the year comes to a close, and we start pondering that list of resolutions, let one resolve be to surround ourselves with ‘yay’sayers, not naysayers in the New Year!

Have a good weekend!

– Anahita