Harvey - I agree. Holding on to hope or feeling hope makes it harder for me. I've always been optimistic and a hard worker - figuring I work something until I get the result I want. That has made me successful in most things.
I once had a coach say "Live with hope, and be willing to deal with disappointment; that's better than living a lonely life with a protected heart."
I thought at the time that was good advice. Of course we are past that now. But early on I thought that was fitting.
We've now reached the place where LH's perspective is the better take.
