I like that you brought up pessimism. How can one balance being prepared far harder times and think optimistically about the future?

I want to think more about space exploration; new technologies that make people's lives easier; sound governments that are good stewards to their people; and a closer global community. But I am tempered by reality sometimes. Space exploration turns to space militarization; new technologies can be used to suppress people rather than make their life easier; governments can be predators to the people; and the global community can be partitioned and led to war.

I feel better about myself when I think about the good rather than the bad. But sometimes thinking about the bad, makes the bad less painful in the future, because you take great pains to avoid it.