Hope isn’t soft. It’s the most stubborn thing you own.

Expecting things to get better often gets treated as naivety, as though the tougher position were assuming they will not. Cynicism is actually the easier stance, because nothing can disappoint it. Continuing to work toward something with no evidence yet takes considerably more nerve than giving up did. It is a decision repeated daily rather than a feeling you happen to have.

Notice when you are calling something realism that is really protection against being let down. Choose one thing you are still willing to want out loud. Keep acting as though it might happen.