I have hope when I observe the small things, like the random acts of kindness and the smiles given in return. My hope fades when I widen my view to what is happening in certain regions of the world, and then globally.
I used to listen to my brother cry himself to sleep as we shared a room as children and teenagers. It's only been quite recent, as we have been speaking a lot, that I have learned that his view was wide as a boy. The sadness distributed by the square box in the corner of the room being a major factor in the cause of his stress and fear.
Now he's a bit more day-to-day, minding his own business and doing his thing, and bit more comfortable/accepting in that this is all he can do. He wont bring children into this world though, that decision was made a long time ago.
You know when I say it, my folks look at me like crazy. I tell them, getting married is not something I think about and bringing children into this world scares me. So much evil walks the streets.
I think I have always had wider perspectives of human behavior. I am not surprised when negative things happen. I am mostly stunned when something good happens. That is why those little things you mentioned make me smile, make me dream but reality has a way of blindsiding you and you realise that it is still the same. Your brother has the right of it.