Hiya Scooter. I'm glad you decided to post this thread!

I've had my share of lofty goals (with some great successes) with crashes and then periods of steps backwards with some steps forward. And repeat. During said crashes I had plenty of frustration, regrets, desperation, and lowered self worth and disappointment in myself. However, for the most part I have also had some ability to let some things roll off my back. I've also eventually been able to tell myself "It's OK where you are right now. It's OK." And that I need to kind to myself and others.

Perhaps some may say one must "forgive" themselves (and others). True, however, far too often people attribute fault, or even sin, to things that were/are out of their control, at various times. We have a serious mental health disorder. That's not our fault. And many of those "normal folk" may not be able to handle near the struggle as we do. A person with two legs who beats a person with only one, to a finish line, is not necessarily "stronger" or "faster" in a core way. Consider a different perspective on this. Doing so can be freeing. But that doesn't mean resign yourself to being unhappy.

In recent years, I've really mastered finding satisfaction in the small things in life. Certainly being on disability gives me the time/opportunity to do so. I have tried working in some satisfying tasks that don't require set high expectations. Expectations is a word to ponder. They can be set to assist with success or to always bring disappointment. I've realized how to work them for myself so they help rather than hinder my life satisfaction.

I wrote a blog post in 2018 on pretty much the above at
Making Progress in the School of Hard Knocks (Learning From Challenges) – Bird Flight Since then, I have indeed gone new places. Pretty exciting ones. There will surely be some bumps in my road ahead, but my goal is to keep trucking along.

Another thing I have reworked in my life are "priorities". They have a lot to do with managing expectations for yourself and others and neither have to be looked at as a sacrifice. Just modifications.