I’m in need of the same thing. I try to convince myself to just take baby steps regardless and hope it’ll build momentum. The track record is not great though

The wife and I would be more than happy to have some fun with you if you ever find yourself near St Louis

Hoooraaaaay! Question mark

TIL I’m above average.

This sounds eerily like my exact situation. It’s only 3 other siblings for me though. I’ll have to see her in roughly a month at my sister’s wedding though. Kinda nervous, not gonna lie. But as you said I’m more at peace than I’ve ever been. Wife, kids, and I are all solid and growing together without that toxic cycle weighing us down anymore.

There’s a weight that hasn’t been pressing down on me for roughly three years. I’ve grown in so many ways as well. It was a great decision that’s only improved our immediate family group in almost every way.

That being said, my sister I have maintained contact with is getting married soon. And those I’ve cut out will be there. Little bit nervous about that and hope they don’t cause a scene at the wedding. I offered to bow out but she doesn’t want that. Our narcissistic sister (that she made her maid of honor) froze her out and refused to talk to her for two weeks when she found out was going to the wedding.

If you’re ever in St Louis…

Ish. But it also shows the the tip of the severe amount of work you have to put in to be not just good but great at what you do. There’s something special about cooking for people. If anything those shows are more like watching professional sports for those that are in to sports. They can appreciate the amount of work somebody had to do to get there. Sure, anybody can make a meal, just like anybody can make a shot in basketball, but to be able to take the shot and get nothing but net many times over… That’s hard work and practice. There are those that will end up in that field due to misplaced notions and there are those that will end up there because it was the only way to earn a paycheck. But to get to that level it takes a lot of drive, passion, and willingness to learn from your failures. But, you’re right, there will always be that group of high school football players or kids that got A’s in home ec that watch that and think “That could easily be me”

When nature says “fuck you in particular”