I feel much better now, knowing that I'm not irrepairably harming myself by being a cranky-ass cynic...
"While positive thinking has its advantages, they argue, a little whining now and then is not such a bad thing. Pessimism, in some circumstances, may have its place. And the unrelieved pressure to be upbeat, they assert, may gloss over individual needs and differences, and may make some people feel worse instead of better. "
Seeing Pessimism's Place in a Smiley-Faced World.
(from the NY Times, so you'll need to register...)