I am indeed already very positive and passionate with everything I do. Or I just don't do it. You cornered me well (even if we only met briefly in real life) ;)
[...] It sounds like I'm forcing myself to justify it, but I genuinely have improved my craft a ton this way the last couple of years.
Why are justifications needed? This is a choice. As soon as we are happy with it, it is fine. And there is no free lunch. Opting for a given choice comes with other pros and cons. I could say 'positivity hit me again' (maybe this positivity ;) ), couldn't I?
Haha that's an interesting way to plug. Kinda fun seeing your name on top of people a world apart in all aspects working together one one thing =D
This was a paper with a good friend of mine from Beijing, who unfortunately passed away last June (he was in his mid-thirties :( ).