Today I helped a young refugee apply for an opportunity that would change his life. He doesn't have much chance of getting it but in his more pessimistic moments I told him that the only guaranteed result would be if he gave up on the application.

When people do succeed in moving forward I usually hear about their achievement and we celebrate. I very rarely hear what comes next. In common with teachers, health care workers and others supporting humans, it's one of the difficult things about my work. Once people are heading forward they don't look back. 

Nor should they. Which of us does?

We have to assume that silence is mostly good.