We turn a holiday mishap into five clear takeaways on pain, boundaries, gratitude, and accountability. A raw plan forms: 30–45 days to leave, work more, find housing, and move from codependent patterns to self-led freedom by February. • people cannot give what they do not have • gratitude can coexist with pain • naming feelings makes them workable • accountability turns insight into action • resilience as improvising when plans fail • let them project, I'll protect my peace • setting a firm ...