It could feel like an awful trick of life to have had a taste of what I like best and what makes me come fully alive and have that not be possible TL

I know this. I know this far too well. Not only is the one best thing that would make any life a time and place of the purest of happiness but a person whose presence makes me happy in the absence of the best one gave me a taste of comfort and companionship and then decided to take it away.

but seeing the good parts of our now every day helps me not just make it through to GRD and SL but helps me have and show more frequent and consistent and deeper gratitude for everything in life.

My happiness here is just as you note, beg enough and good enough and powerful enough to get me to GRD and SL. It also gives me moments and days wherein I believe I can honestly say that I, to am improving in my gratitude for what is. I'm sorry for the times that my disappointments in what life allows for me and in myself drive me to do or say or feel things that don't show the gratitude that I should be able to show.

for example, if we want to feel proud of ourselves but don't feel that in the moment, we could think of nice things we've accomplished, giving ourselves thoughts of matters that can induce self-pride

I believe this is very sensible. It is similar to the use of affirmations and envisioning things being already the way you want them to be, both of which are suggestions for success and recovery that I've heard or read over the years. As you say the "fake it until you make it" thing :)

When we "met", I was happy to just have clean water and sufficient food.

I know, I remember you saying as much. You also have told me, though, that you were mostly just marking time at that point.

Now I sometimes have these sad moments of wanting more

I know this, too. I'm sorry for the sadness it makes you feel but I believe in you to make the getting past it part of the stronger and ever wiser and more brilliant you that you will be tomorrow and the day after and the day after.

It's normal, it's human, and it's what gives us the vision to accomplish more every day. We both don't care to be wanting, but feeling want for things is okay. It is my wish for you to get the the more that you can :)