When too much woefully falls short

Have you noticed how no one does moderation these days? To say something is 'good', or even 'excellent', is now tantamount to calling it 'mediocre'. To describe a colleague as 'very competent' is to risk accusing him or her of being hopeless. The only acceptable currency is the hyperbolic superlative. Every idea must be 'groundbreaking', every political leader pulling crowds a 'rock star', every emoji response a heart exploding with love, and every bright spark is a 'genius'. Anything less is treated as an insult, even if the sentiment was meant to be positive. Social media has turbocharged this inflation of expression. A simple thumbs-up is now read as passive-aggressive. A handshake is cold; a namaste, downright distant. Hugging everyone - even the intern you met 5 mins ago - is the new baseline of warmth. The result is a culture where sincerity is drowned in syrup, and nuance is smothered under a blanket of exaggerated affection. When you call every presentation 'brilliant', how do you describe the one that actually is?

This tyranny of exaggeration is not harmless. It breeds cynicism, erodes trust and makes honest communication impossible. So, save the hugs, hearts and huzzahs for where and when they are deserved. Because here's the funny thing - if everything is 'Amay-zing!' , then nothing is. Especially, go easy on the hugging.