There’s a fine difference between being perpetually pessimistic and possessing an ornery streak. While some might see grumbling as simply whining, there's actually an technique to it, a way to express dissatisfaction without alienating those around you. This isn’t about being passive-aggressive, but rather finding a equilibrium between honesty

The city exhales a/its/the sigh/breath/exhalation, a symphony of rustling/grinding/screeching tires against the smooth/grimy/worn surface. Above, the sky weeps/hangs/casts a pall of/over/across gray concrete and steel. The pulse/rhythm/heartbeat of traffic flows/trundles/rumbles, a/the/an ceaseless march/motion/progression. Each car, a fleeting sha