Have you ever gone stale?

It's a game, if you don't enjoy it don't play. 

Your rating is around 1000, errors that you make in the first few moves really have nothing to do with how it will end. If what you say is true -- that chess is a relentless, unavoidable progression to an inevitable conclusion -- then every game, especially at higher levels, would end the same way. In reality, chess is massive. There are an unfathomable amount of possibilities. The fact that nearly every game is unique is a testament to this.

Just practice tactics. They're fun to do, and at this level they're the best bang for your buck in terms of improvements. I guarantee that if you bring your tactics rating from 775 to around 1200, you'll see huge improvements in your play.

The title reminds me of a cartoon that had something looking like the Pilsbury Doughboy playing chess against his partner. The caption was something like "The game was a draw, due to a 'stale' mate."

Anyway, it might help to take a break if you're feeling burnt from the game.