Nearly every conversation I’ve had lately has carried the same undercurrent: Exhaustion, cynicism, and a growing sense that the world is not just stagnating but actively getting worse. I understand the feeling. With 24/7 news coverage highlighting almost nothing but the worst of humanity, it would be strange not to feel that way sometimes. Yet I remain optimistic about the future. Not because I’m immune to what’s happening, and not because I’m wearing rose-colored glasses. I’d argue my...