You captured how life’s challenges often play out, especially for a person who tackles them head on. I’ve seen it go many ways, depending on the disposition of the person facing the challenge. There are the old expressions that come to mind about how to eat an elephant and Rome not being built in a day.

I have a similar experience as you when I face trying circumstances. I will face directly into the headwind and push forward like a linebacker every time. “There’s no way around it but through it,” another expression goes. And then it’s time to recharge.

Just to give a concrete example, I’ve had some household projects recently that were absolutely overwhelming. They involved going through massive amounts of old family stuff, sorting, eliminating, reorganizing. It was a physical and emotional effort because it involved dealing with my kids’ stuff from when they were young. Bins and bins of ski gear, winter clothes, sports equipment, etc. I finally took the long Thanksgiving weekend to get it done so that a contractor can start work in a room that was practically inaccessible. I got it done after many hours of work and collapsed with a glass of wine! I was completely drained, but at the same time elated. The results are worth the hard work, and everything I had to face when all of the memories come back of being a mom to three little cuties who are now grown.