There’s a lesson I learned a long time ago that I rarely follow…unfortunately, to my detriment.
I remember that long ago, before I got my first job, I wanted to dedicate a small portion of my first paycheck to rewarding myself by buying something for myself at Tiffany’s. When I graduated from college, I wanted to take some time off from the nonstop semesters and go travel southeast Asia. I never did. When I opened my first business, I wanted to show appreciation for all of the things my parents had done for me. I wanted to give my first check — no matter how big or small — to them so that they could pay some bills, buy some groceries, or do whatever. I never did. When I ran my first 5K and finally crossed something off of my bucket list, I wanted to finally celebrate such an achievement, no matter how big or small the celebration. I spent the evening depressed because no one showed up for it (even though I got a lot of love online for it). And, to top it off, I got into an accident right before. Bad juju all the way around.
In an effort to support all of the changes you are making in your life, it’s really, REALLY important to celebrate the little victories along the way. Aside from just seeing the silver lining in every bad situation, it’s important to recognize change in your life when you are in flux. By honoring it you pave the way for better decisions.
Instead of seeing your life as one continuous stream of events and going through the motions, giving yourself mile markers or chapters along the way allow you to compartmentalize your progress, evaluate your performance, and plan for the future. Celebrating the little things allow you to acknowledge that you did something right…and to fulfill a promise to yourself.
Whether it’s a manicure, some personal training sessions, or just a glass of champagne, I am personally a believer in celebrating the little victories in life. It doesn’t matter how small or insignificant it may seem to someone else. It only matters how significant it seems to you.
Amara in Training 