The past couple of years have been fraught with challenges, as well as devastation and tragedy: from the COVID pandemic to the war in Ukraine, from soaring food and energy prices to climate change consequences.

Yet, despite the massive challenges, few people want to give up hope that things might turn better. After all, to hope is to be human. 

Click through the gallery above to learn some German expressions that may inspire you to not give up hope.

You'll find more from Meet the Germans on  You Tube ,  Instagram and on  dw.com/MeettheGermans.

This article is an updated version of one originally published on August 4, 2021.