Love Is Not Cringe

Somewhere along the line, we decided that being sincere was embarrassing. We wrapped ourselves in ten layers of irony and decided that the only safe way to exist was to never actually care about anything. I see it everywhere. If someone posts something hopeful, they get hit with a ‘cringe’ label faster than you can blink. But here’s the truth your big sibling needs you to hear: cynicism is a defense mechanism for people who are too scared to try. It’s a way to avoid disappointment by assuming everything is already trash. It’s lazy, and it’s keeping you miserable.

I want you to try being the person who cares too much. I want you to be the person who sends the ‘I appreciate you’ text without a hint of sarcasm. Radical love is the only thing that actually builds anything worth having. The internet thrives on tearing things down, but that doesn't help you grow as a human. It just leaves you standing in a pile of rubble feeling ‘cool’ but incredibly lonely. Real strength is having the audacity to be kind when everyone else is being a hater. That’s the energy we need in 2025.

It takes zero effort to be a critic. It takes a massive amount of resilience to stay soft in a world that feels hard. Think about the people who have actually impacted your life. Were they the ones making snarky comments on the sidelines? Or were they the ones who showed up with genuine support? You know the answer. Kindness isn't a sign of being naive; it’s a sign that you have enough internal resources to give some away. It means you’re winning the internal battle against the bitterness that the digital world tries to feed you every day.

Let’s make a pact to stop hiding behind the ‘ironic’ persona. If you like something, say it. If you’re proud of a friend, tell them. If you see beauty in the world, acknowledge it. We have to start valuing connection over clout. The pixels on your screen won't be there for you when things get tough, but the people you’ve treated with genuine love will be. Don't let the fear of being ‘cringe’ stop you from being a decent human being. Choose to be the light in someone else's dark feed.