we are to mindfully acknowledge the opportunity within those struggles
This is great, Robby. Dalek was recently bringing this to my attention in his delicate, tentative, circumspect way (hmmm... you so remind me of someone I once knew, Dalek).
Anyway, I've been thinking about that a lot, even posted something about it a few minutes ago on a newcomer thread. That it isn't about being happy. Sure, that's often the case. It definitely has made my life a million times easier and more enjoyable. But the reward of abstinence is abstinence. And the bad times are, in their own way, even more satisfying.
So back to Ken. Ken, you're gonna make it. I have no doubt of that. That setback? That's just going to make your final victory even sweeter.
Oh crap... now Dalek's going to ask me "What if it doesn't make anything sweeter?
What then?"
