the dilemma of the inevitable,

I am not sure whether everyone who undertakes major renovations inevitably reaches a point where they realise that they simply can not go any further without help. However, I imagine it happens to most. The reason for this is fairly simple I think and has to do with that pernicious aspect in all of us created by ego. We think we have it all planned out and that we know what we have gotten ourselves into. And even if things do not go exactly to plan it will be ok because we have the skills and the experience to pull it all together.

It is very hard to come to terms with the mortifying truth that sometimes we overestimate our capacity and underestimate the size of the project we have undertaken. It harks back a little to our inability to interpret the architects vision at the beginning and the realisation as we progress that the job was more complicated than we first thought.

The brighter side of this dilemma is that once we have swallowed our pride sufficiently to admit our limitations and reached out to those who can assist, we discover that there are wonderful tradespeople out there who are not only exceptionally good at what they do, but who make the process of our own project richer. I think this has to do with validation. Where our ego sees our limitations as failure, others may not. When others come on board without judgement, without telling you what an idiot you are for not being able to complete the job on your own, without making you in any way feel inadequate, there is an immense feeling of relief. The relief is not only that the job will get done but that you are no longer completely alone in the process. That others have an interest in the project's ultimate success. Now that is what I call a major bonus. So dark as it sometimes becomes, there are flashes of light and hope.