Hi Stuart @Stuartw
I was about to wade in with my thoughts as a 69 year old who started learning guitar aged 64. However I think it’s all been said by others.
There’s been a load of posts and advice since your last reply. Has any of this been of help?
There is a destination ? Where 
Still enjoying ride Brian, all of what I say above is part of the journey, no one said it would be easy but they said it would be never ending. I think once you accept all those facts, you just go with the flow, neither fast or slow. Slowly slowly catchy 
What? 
You are telling me, that is not going to last? Oh no… I know that of course… Hmm, but sometimes a simple coffee 
can also cause euphoria, it doesn’t necessarily have to be the big hit always, I think
I feel great, but you are asking the wrong question. Being able to knock out songs sounds like factory work and would be terribly boring. I wouldn’t sign up for that. Being able to find musical inspiration and then bring it to life and express it in your own way and with your own voice is what moves the needle for me. It might not mean anything to anyone else, but it will mean the world to you if you take that path. The secret sauce is to find your own voice on the instrument.
@Rossco01 @TheMadman_tobyjenner
Jason, Toby - many thanks for taking the time to write your responses. Just what I was hoping for. They’re a good read and not too long at all.
I’m sure Stuart and everyone else will find inspiration in them and can see that a loss of direction can happen at any level. It’s what you do next that matters and you’ve kept on doing something next!
@CT Ha ha! Well okay, it might be the wrong question for you Clint, but I get it and I’m all for it.
It’s all in your first little sentence. “I feel great “ I guess that’s because you know you’re direction and you’re enjoying the ride. 
Hi @Stuartw
This has been a really interesting collection of replies. I sure hope you find useful wisdom in these!
When I have the doldrums, sometimes I just need to get some rest or sleep. Not joking here. If you are fatigued, get some rest, be it mental or physical. It really helps me out after a hard workweek or too many late nights.
One thing I wish I had is a buddy to enjoy a child-like discussion/sharing of what we are learning. This would be discussion beyond what the general community would care to see - silly stuff, curious research findings, friendly competition, things like that. This will generate enthusiasm all on its own. The buddy doesn’t even need to be in person, sending videos and simply texting each other will go a long way.
David
I should add that I actually don’t play many “songs” these days. I cherry pick one or two for Open Mics but the near 2 years of developing the singing and playing left me a little song fatigued but now and then will open up my Songbook and run through a couple or three for my own personal pleasure and distraction. Or something I hear might float my boat but these days I am not moving from song to song constantly as I was during the old BC and IM.
I am more into Blues Rock soloing and solo acoustic Blues or just plain improvising, the latter being a place to indulge and get lost in the flow. Clint will hate me but 10 min backing tracks are great for that 
But none of this would have been possible, the relationships between the licks and chords etc, without the strong wide and deep foundation I built in the early days and that was all based on songs songs song songs and more songs, as a certain Mr C still encourages to this day !
@TheMadman_tobyjenner
No need for confessions Toby, I’m sure a certain Mr C will grant you an exemption!
But don’t tell him that I haven’t played any songs for a couple of months - it’s been 12 BB progressions all the way!
Ain’t no thing to play for hours over backing tracks and loops, it’s just not a recipe for great or interesting listening for others. We need to be able to lay down our tasty chops that we share in fairly short order. We should be able to convey some kind of motif or phrasing within about 12 bars.
Sorry could not resist dangling the hook for the West Coast angler Reeled you in
Quite agree with you on the recording and sharing front, 2 to 3 mins max noodle time, would be my preferences but we all have our own menu.
I guess my ambition was to Wish You Were Here and which I have achieved, as I can mostly play the tune, incl riffs, although not fault free.
Would need to have a think about that as never really had any goals as such. Was going to do the JG course and see what happens!
See above but going to have to water my goals down 
To all that have responded to my original post thank you but let’s end it here!
Some really good, interesting responses here… I don’t think I can add to the advice given but would say this:
Many of us refer to this as a “Journey” & I think that is good… so much of life seems to be about “Getting to where you want to go” in lots of ways…
Many times I have set out with a destination in mind and ended up somewhere I had no intention of going to but ended up enjoying the heck out an experience that was completely unexpected! Maybe I got to the original destination eventually, maybe not… point is, have a good time WHEREVER YOU ARE… set out for that other place tomorrow/next week/next month… etc.
I haven’t achieved a single one of my original guitar goals… I think I set them way to high & this is part of why I never really learned to play well… Justin’s Campfire, Developer, Dreamer plan has helped me immensely with setting some realistic expectations for my progress. I have always wanted to play Django’s Minor Swing… it kinda drove me nuts when I tried to play parts of it unsuccessfully. Now it’s firmly in my Dreamer category & I am working slowly towards the techniques I need to play that song! It may take me till I’m 70, but dang it, I’m going to master it!!
Some days things won’t click & the next day they do… some days I can’t park the car straight either… that’s life!
Oh well… rant over… good luck with busting out of the doldrums @Stuartw !
Tod
The journey analogy works pretty well, Tod.
I also like the adventure analogy, given that some may associate a journey with a specific destination, start and finish. Of course I over think this, but hey ho nonny oh that’s how I go.
And frequently getting lost on the way is part of that ! Why should learning the guitar feel or be different. I think once you recognise and acknowledge that these “bumps” along the way are going to happen, its easier to deal with them and get going again. My .02 euros
Oh yes, there’s journey and there’s adventure.
My sat nav has three settings - eco, fast and leisurely. (not that I use it cos I usually know where I’m going). I’ve set off on this journey of learning guitar but I prefer it when it turns into an adventure. As I make my way through Grade2 I’m learning things that I didn’t know were there to be learned and I might take a turn off the fast route onto the leisurely route. It may turn out to be a cul-de-sac or it may turn out to be a much more adventurous and fun route to where I’m going.
We’ll learn more on the scenic route.
I’ll throw in my 2c. In my almost 50 years of playing I’ve met a lot of people setting off on their musical journey.
The ones who look at it as many small journeys with specific destinations advance very quickly and become outstanding musicians.
The ones that look at it as one long journey with no real destination get frustrated and quit.
The ones who view it as an adventure meander around and never reach the full potential.
I resemble this…. Fortunately, I am not worried about any “potential”. The rock star ship sailed long ago.
There’s nothing wrong with not reaching your potential just don’t spend the rest of you life saying “I wish I could play that” or “I’ll never be able to play that” Just enjoy the ride. That’s what’s important.
If we each had some idea what our potential for playing the guitar is, it would be easier to know how we are doing relative to it. But we don’t, and knowing what our potential is might be an inhibitor to reaching it. E.g. I’m never going to be able to play ‘Eruption’ so why even try learning to play. Or, I could be a really good musician if only I spent 10 hours a day practicing, but I’m not willing to make the sacrifices.
50 hears ago I decided to stop playing because I didn’t see that I had much potential. Perhaps it was the right decision for me at the time. I’ll never know, and I have no regrets, but my reasoning was flawed. I used natural talent, comparing myself to others, as the main/only measure of my potential.
Everything is different now. I’m old enough (retired) to have lots of time to learn to play and I have a more mature assessment of my talents and skills. I have no idea if I’m falling short of whatever my current potential is, but I agree with Rick’s @stitch view with a little addition : Its more effective to take “many small journeys with specific destinations”, BUT don’t be afraid to go off on adventures from time to time and don’t be concerned if you don’t reach every one of your destinations in a timely manner. Feedback from your journeys and adventures will help you decide on the next set of journeys. And “enjoy the ride”, both the ups and the downs.
I like this!!! Thinking of where you want to be in time but taking the scenic route instead of the (in the US) Interstate Highway!
I also use the Journey analogy instead of the Adventure analogy because some of my “Adventures” were just a wee bit too Adventurous!!! Hot air balloon ride that ended with a street sign going through my right forearm or the skiing lesson that ended up with an up front and personal close encounter with a tree ( and the ski patrol )!!!
Don’t need much more “Adventure” … the scenic route sounds great!!!
Tod