How do you manage to keep up that smile even during testing times?

Tough times ARE TOUGH and pretending is only going to make it tougher.

There is no pretending, no help from the outside and yet you have to go on. When I smile in tough times it is a reminder that I HAVE TO SHOW UP FOR MYSELF AND PEOPLE WHO LOVE ME!

So when I smile, it is sometimes a happy smile, an emotional smile, smile with teary eyes, smile of little joys, smile of failure, of giving up: those are the real smiles on my face. Even in tough times.