"Retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties and at the same time confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be."
Thinker, this is great. I've never seen anyone break it down like this - must be that analytical mind at work. The O'Dog is going to do this same exercise.
As you've discovered, the Short Story is we can't let them ruin our game. "Prevail" means living the best we can.
(O'Dog now updates his sitch in "Surviving the Big D")
"My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand." Thich Nhat Hanh