Appreciate how far you’ve come
Yesterday I saw a post that said something like this: “This time last year, we were in the last normal week of our lives and we didn’t even know.”
We’ve been battling the pandemic for almost exactly one year. Sheesh! Everyone says time flies when you’re having fun, but it seems like time flies regardless. So much has changed for all of us since March 2020, but sometimes it feels like that was just yesterday.
Unfortunately, we all experienced loss in some way last year; we lost special moments, experiences, loved ones, and other tangible aspects of our life. It might even feel like you simply lost time.
After reading that Facebook post, I took a few moments to reflect (and take a look at my Snapchat memories). Oddly enough, I felt grateful.
Maybe we didn’t have the 2020 we all anticipated or hoped for. Maybe you’re not exactly where you thought you’d be by now because of everything that’s happened.
But today is a reminder to appreciate how far you’ve come.
It’s easy to harp on the idea that we lost an entire year of our lives. In some regard, it’s true. There are several things we had to cancel, put on hold, or just go about differently (hello virtual weddings and graduations!) You might still think about 2020 and feel disappointed, angry, and sad. I totally understand.
However, if you’re sitting here reading this post or listening to this clip right now, it means you’re still here. You’ve made it this far. And that’s something to celebrate.
I practice being present as much as possible, but I know it’s important to reflect on the past. I don’t mean you should live in, get hung up on, or resent the past. You just have to appreciate where it’s brought you. Think about how it’s made you grow: the ups and downs, every curveball, all the happy moments, and the days where all you wanted to do was cry. Despite it all, you are still here. You have overcome it all! Be proud!
Most of us don’t have this attitude on a regular basis. We don’t realize how much progress we’ve made because we don’t usually recognize the small wins in our day to day (like getting through a Zoom meeting without nerves, making that one extra sale at the end of the month, or finally having the time to watch a movie with your significant other.) I hope you’re able to think about some of those moments right now.
This is your reminder that over the past 12 months, you’ve become stronger. You’ve proven to yourself that you are adaptable, capable, and most importantly, a human who needs to give yourself a break now and then. Showing up for yourself, even in the smallest ways, is still a win.
Pandemic or not, chances are you have fought to become who you are today. You’ve fought self-doubt, lack of support, or the ever-changing circumstances of 2020. You’re likely STILL fighting. You’re probably still on this journey of personal development and self-love every single day. That’s why the cheesy saying “it’s about the journey, not the destination is so true. It’s not only about praising who you are right now, it’s about patting yourself on the back for growing along the way.
When you take a moment to appreciate your journey, you realize how powerful you truly are. And that often makes you even more ambitious and hopeful for the future. You’ll think to yourself “If I’ve made it this far, I know I can keep going.”
Celebrating how far you’ve come, rather than focusing on how slow or behind you feel, gives you the confidence to keep pushing. You can’t put your best foot forward and go after what you want without loving yourself and appreciating where you are right now; otherwise, you’ll never feel good enough (even when you’ve achieved your goal, like a “dream body” or “dream job”).
And I’ll end this by saying if it doesn’t seem like anyone is proud of you, know that I am. I don’t need to know you personally to know you’ve dealt with some difficult s*** this year. Congrats on achieving everything you have even if it means just getting through the school year, keeping your family safe, going on a walk every day, keeping your business afloat, taking the online course you’ve been putting off, taking the time to implement self-care practices or making your bed every morning.
