do you fell like youre on the slippery slope?......... you move forward a few feet then slide back then forward & so on

Yes, and on a personal note often as of late. That's what life is, generally speaking. A mixture of good and bad things but there are those times when we seem to make little progress. But yes... I associate with what you are saying

As much as going backwards sucks, it's still better than skidding all the way down that slope face first, after those first few feet forward, right?

Perhaps