This is a great thread!! I was thinking something similar after last week's talk too. I'm having a major life dilema about work and a life outside of work, changing careers and everything is all in an uproar. But I'm handling it and that is surprising to me. There's a meltdown here and there but I can deal this time.

She said something about how much progress it is to hear me say I want certain things in my life now. As opposed to how terrible I talked before and figured my life would always be unendurable. She said I couldn't have talked to her about wanting to have more in my life than work and just existing. Those are things people as beaten down as I was don't say. I hadn't made that connection and it made me feel really good that I am doing things better for real.

In my head, I always wonder if I'm just playing along and pretending to feel better. But that was just an offhand, honest discussion and I didn't have any thought about if I 'really' felt that way or not. So I guess I do see the difference is real. And it's important to me now to take care of myself in regards to work, which is a totally new thing for me. I'm so glad she pointed that out.

And I'm glad of this discussion! I hope we can keep more stories going!