The morning pages are definitely helping. The pages, along with a dose of meditations from Hidden Power for Human Problems, have caused my attitude to take a turn for the better. While I don't miss the pages yet if I skip, I notice the (negative) effect at the end of the day. And indeed, I miss walking if I skip it now, and I miss recovery group meetings if I go longer than usual without one. All of these are positive signs. Even more positive is that I had the sense to set myself goals that are less than perfection. I've cut myself some slack. What a concept!

And my courage is gradually returning. I've managed to update my resume (it only took me a week. Most of that was to get up the nerve to update my resume.) I've sent it off to two recruiters. And I'm working on the nerve to send it to A Major Animation Studio Here In Southern California. They're looking for engineers. I am an engineer... (keep repeating: "I am an engineer. I am an engineer...")

Younger Son and I have started "spotting" each other; i.e. when one of us has a job to do that is difficult to focus on, that person will ask the other to "spot" him/her. "Spotting" consists in doing a task (work, reading, whatever) in close proximity to the potential distractee, and occasionally saying things like, "Is that the task you intended to do?" This sensible approach is making us both more productive at home.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel. It might even be an exit, rather than an oncoming train.