My roommate thought she hated cooking and then she moved in with me and started using knives that were actually sharp and realized cooking is fun. Sometimes I wonder how many other situations are like this. It's not you, or your skills. It's just the lack of correct tools. Everyone knows you need a knife in the kitchen but no one mentions a sharpening stone.
Also you should probably sharpen your knife.
Speaking less metaphorically I literally do wonder how many people would realize Cooking Doesn't Suck if only they had sharper knives. Cutting vegetables is not supposed to be a workout. You're not supposed to apply force when you press down. If you have to force the knife down then the knife is dull! This is a fixable problem!
And for anyone who needs to hear this : yes, sharper knives are MORE safe, for two key reasons.
First, the option is not "cut yourself" or "not cut yourself," it's "get a clean cut that's easy to heal" or "get a jagged cut that's tears the skin and leaves a scar and takes forever to heal."
Second, you will cut yourself far less with a sharp knife that gently slices your carrots, than you will with a dull knife you need to press extra hard on and slides OFF your carrots, going in directions you did not intend the knife to go.
