[some_furry]

That's a good point, and I hope it helps someone reading this thread.

As for me: I'm focusing on my friends and my career, not the uncertain prospects of romance. I don't even go to the local furry meetups anymore (all they really talked about was relationship drama, so not a huge loss).

Hope can be the biggest downer. I've learned to live without it. It's surprisingly liberating, actually. (I wouldn't recommend this for everyone.)

[sosuke]

Having certain hopes can feel like measuring yourself and seeing how much you've failed to achieve that hope. It is liberating to let go of hope but you'll find it creeps back in with time since you're feeling good. Wishing you well.