It is hard to keep a really solid perspective. We want to see progress as linear. Once everything starts getting better, it will keep getting better and better and never backtrack.

See how unrealistic that sounds? It’s because it is. Progress isn’t linear! We wouldn’t expect that from someone else, but we want to hold ourselves to it. Tyler is struggling with it. He feels like we get a step forward and two back, but it is because it is easy to forget all the things going right when they keep going right. Nothing promises that once something starts going right it will stay that way.

So, as I told him look, yeah, some current home upkeep isn’t going how we’d like, but there is so much that is going well. The animals and people are healthy. Family and friend relationships are going well. Financials are improving and living situations are improving. Employment is consistent and improving. The things that seem little and forgettable shouldn’t be forgotten. I make lists to help me keep perspective and try to help him keep it too. Don’t let yourself get bogged down with the small things going wrong too, because even those will get better too.