After failing who-knows-how many times at baking cookies and ending up with anything from weird lattice crackers to engorged mothballs, I finally make cookies that actually look like cookies, smell like cookies and taste like GOOD cookies! I can't add a picture but my best friend told me they looked perfect, and she's really good at baking (and also very honest lol).

I'm notoriously terrible at baking (ADHD ) as I have no patience to measure things and don't have the intuitive chemist trait required to, uh, wing it. I was also never taught or learned how to bake. So I've had many failed experiences that are predominantly my own fault due to not following instructions diligently and knowing the minute difference between things like "soft butter" and "melted butter" (as, apparently, this is like night and day in baking). Whoops.

Imagine my surprise yesterday when I tried yet again for cookies, and even though I screwed up the recipe, I took a second, did some math and stuff, adjusted the amounts and they came out flawless! Magazine perfect cookies!

They are oatmeal chocolate chip and I'm about to eat two more of them right now.

I hope this can help someone smile and feel a little hopeful if they, too, chronically fail at something. Just keep trying and you'll get there, and I hope it feels as good as eating a freshly baked cookie when you do!

(My recipe for "Don't Give Up" Cookies: 1 egg 1/2 cup unsalted butter, very soft 1/2 cup light brown or golden sugar, packed 1/4 cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1-1 1/4 cup old-fashioned oats, I used quick oats 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 cup chocolate chips

Bake at 350° for 8 minutes or roll in to balls to put in the freezer and have a fresh cookie whenever you want!)