People aren't really as bad as they seem to be. I guess as a teenager, one's outlook is really rosy, and so expectations are really high, and then after a series of incidents one's expectations plummet. And then here I am now, thinking that people aren't really that bad after all. Generally, most people want to make a positive effect on other people. It's not all backstabbing and selfishness and bleakness.
It's all about expectations. Just keep them low.
"The world is not a wish-granting factory."