"Anyone can be cynical; the challenge is to be an optimist," wrote Ignacio Pereyra in "End-Of-Year Notes: Our Eternal Hunt For Optimism."
It's a good article that concludes, "In the end, to be an optimist does not mean you have to stop doubting, stop being critical, nor stop fighting for what we believe in. Though it may sound naive, exercising optimism is also a way to fight against pessimism. It is a bet to keep trying — despite our contradictions, our mistakes and the feeling that pushing further no longer makes sense. To be an optimist is to take a deep breath and start again. Yes, being an optimist is a decision that must be sustained."