Glad that you still value your family. The whole life I played the goody two-shoes, refusing presents and stuff since we were impoverished… I'd simply suck everything as "not yet", "patience", "in due time", etc.

At 26, I realized I was going nowhere, so reevaluated everything, capitalize on the "small things of life", and redefining goals. "Earn daddy's respect". Turned 180º and took back control of my life, set a deadline (be a productive member of society by 30 or bite the bullet) to fuel my determination.

For whatever reason, my parents turned their true colors (or I simply was colorblind before), and the source of my determination was gone…

… but for the first time, my plans are working! What fueled me then was pure hatred, to rub in their face how successful I became despite their worst efforts, live to watch them die and dance in their graves.

Now… I grew over it. No, I still hate them, but for me that was tuesday. Now I want to live with purpose, and I have chances and ways to get it. Bearing a grudge won't help.

I want to see how far I can get.

Keep track of your improvement, as small as it is. Raise a red flag if you spent month without any improvement, and if you actually devolved last year, drop everything and restart from scratch.

And don't set for emotional leftovers. You want the happy footlong and a Big Gulp of love nectar. Every. Single. Day. Many assholes have it. There's plenty. Come get yours.