I have found that when discussing Rob's cancer with people, I say to them 'We're feeling positive about things'.
Past experiences have shown that if I tell people what's really going on, how he's doing or how I'm feeling, things go all awkward, they don't know what to say and it all goes to hell. So I'd rather put on the forced smile, tell them that we're being positive and everyone goes along their merry way. Just easier that way.
We're really only honest with family and those really close friends.
I love the idea of being hopeful and I think I'll use that from now on. I agree, I've always challenged the 'always positive' mantra as I don't think it's particularly healthy striving to be always positive. We're human, we feel different emotions for a reason and if we weren't scared/angry/hurt facing our own mortality, then you're denying yourself to be human.
Life is a rollercoaster and our emotions are the carriage we ride in.