We are outspoken about our optimism. These days, though, optimism seems to be in short supply.  The headlines are filled with awful news. Every day brings a different story of political division, violence, or natural disaster.  

Despite the headlines, we see a world that’s getting better.  Compare today to the way things were a decade or a century ago. The world is healthier and safer than ever. The number of children who die every year has been cut in half since 1990 and keeps going down. The number of mothers who die has also dropped dramatically. So has extreme poverty—declining by nearly half in just 20 years. More children are attending school. The list goes on and on.

But being an optimist isn’t about knowing that life used to be worse. It’s about knowing how life can get better. And that’s what really fuels our optimism. Although we see a lot of disease and poverty in our work—and many other big problems that need to be solved—we also see the best of humanity. We spend our time learning from scientists who are inventing cutting-edge tools to cure disease. We talk to dedicated government leaders who are being creative about prioritizing the health and well-being of people around the world. And we meet brave and brilliant individuals all over the world who are imagining new ways to transform their communities.

That’s our response when people ask, “How can you be so optimistic?” It’s a question we’ve been getting more and more, and we think the answer says a lot about how we view the world.

A decade ago, we started a new annual tradition: sitting down to write a letter about our work in philanthropy. This year we’re marking our 10th letter by answering 10 tough questions about our work that people often ask us. We hope you enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed writing it! And if you have a question of your own, you can post it in the comments section of the letter. We’ll answer some of the best ones in the coming weeks.

Why don’t you give more in the United States?  

What do you have to show for the billions you’ve spent on U.S. education?

Why don’t you give money to fight climate change?

Are you imposing your values on other cultures?

Does saving kids’ lives lead to overpopulation?

How are President Trump’s policies affecting your foundation’s work?

Why do you work with corporations?

Is it fair that you have so much influence?

What happens when the two of you disagree?

Why are you really giving your money away—what’s in it for you?

Read the answer to these 10 tough questions:  GatesNotes