Tiny triumphs

To all my friends who are having a rough time, be comforted that you are not alone on your pilgrimage.

Simply picking up and getting on with it can be the most difficult job of all, when seemingly insurmountable, daily difficulties present themselves as towering monsters of adversity.

What to do when Goliath rises, fully armed and fierce, and we, only shepherds with the smallest of stones?

Perhaps one way is to fully recognize our own tiny triumphs – to find a path through a whole jungle of challenges, focusing on each small step, one at a time.

What I mean is the small victories. They often come from measured, determined, regular practice, and if you don’t stop to recognize them, they can pass unnoticed. Huge goals can only really be accomplished by chipping away steadily and undaunted at the mammoth tasks bit by bit, and not expecting too much too soon.

It may seem stupid, and people may roll their eyes at what you perceive important, but why not track and reward yourself for some weekly victory, no matter how insignificant it may seem to someone else.

Here’s my list of things that I could not do last month:
-I did a Camel pose in yoga class
-I used the subjunctive correctly in French class
-I was proud of my students’ success in an assignment
-I discovered a new piece of music that lifted my spirit

For some people these things might come easily, and for other people they are impossible. Me – I’m just grateful for these tiny triumphs.