Small Victories Still Count.

Even the Ridiculous Ones.

By Friday, I think we deserve credit for a few things that will never appear on an awards ceremony program.

Finishing the application.

Making the phone call.

Finding the document we put somewhere “safe.”

That last one should probably come with a medal. The safe place is apparently a highly classified location, even from me.

We spend so much time waiting for a major breakthrough that we can overlook the smaller things we accomplish along the way.

This week, I am trying to notice them.

The Application Went Through

If you are job hunting, submitting an application can involve considerably more than clicking a button.

You research the position, adjust your résumé, write thoughtful answers, and persuade a website to accept a perfectly ordinary PDF.

Then you reach the confirmation screen.

Will it lead to an interview? You do not know yet.

But you completed something that required effort and gave yourself another opportunity. You can appreciate that accomplishment before you know the outcome.

You may also celebrate closing the seventeenth browser tab.

You Handled the Thing

There is usually a task hanging around that takes up more space in your head than it does on your calendar.

An email you need to answer. An appointment you need to schedule. A form that has been quietly judging you from the kitchen counter.

Eventually, you do it.

The relief can feel wildly out of proportion to the task.

Wonderful. Enjoy it.

There is no rule requiring us to minimize an accomplishment because somebody else could have finished it faster.

They are welcome to come over and find my safely stored documents.

A Good Moment Counts, Too

Some victories involve enjoying something.

A conversation that leaves you feeling better. A memory that makes you smile. A meal you sit down to eat while it is still hot.

For someone living with grief, a pleasant afternoon can be worth appreciating just as it is. You do not have to turn it into a milestone or figure out what it means about the rest of your life.

Today had a good moment.

That is enough information.

And if you laughed hard enough to briefly forget what you were worrying about, I hope you enjoyed every second.

Someone Followed Through

I am grateful for the people who do what they said they would do.

They send the information. Return the call. Make the introduction. Remember the question.

Follow-through can make a real difference when you are looking for work, navigating a problem, or trying to help someone else.

It deserves recognition.

Sometimes a simple “Thank you, that helped” is all it takes. We can spend a little more time acknowledging useful kindness when we encounter it.

Before You Declare the Week a Wash

Take a moment to remember what you handled.

Maybe you made progress on something important. Maybe you asked for help. Maybe you rested before exhaustion made the decision for you.

Perhaps you fixed a problem yourself and now feel qualified to accept an honorary engineering degree.

I support celebrating that feeling. Please put the tools away first.

A difficult week can still contain effort, progress, kindness, and a few good laughs. Giving those moments credit helps me see the week more fairly.

So here is to the small victories.

The application submitted. The question answered. The task finished. The coffee enjoyed while it was actually hot.

And the document finally found.

Exactly where we put it, of course.