why can I not get better

Have you tried doing an hour of tactics puzzles everyday for at least a year?

Solve the puzzles completely before moving a piece.

Chess is notoriously difficult and slow to make.progression in.  Development takes hours a day, for months and years.

You have not been playing chess long enough to have expectations. If you enjoy the game, keep playing. If you wish to play it well, keep studying.

Don't try to evaluate your performance until you've been at it much longer, such as several years.

Why get better?

You need to put ya heart & soul into the game. It's no good just dipping toes in the water for a couple of months. You need to jump in the deep end & drown for a few years

You need to give up your soul to the satanic Goddess of chess, become its unconditional slave, give every moment of your existence solving the meaningless , useless maneuvers of bishops and knights and perhaps may be perhaps one day u will become a master, and wonder, what the hell have I done with my life and curse the moment u became acquainted with this devilish past time called chess

Hey now, you can rest assured you can beat any stranger you meet at chess.

Of course a schmuck like me could say the same.