Celebrating Victories #4

Bonus post! It’s been about a month since my last celebrating victories post, so I wanted to challenge myself to write another one. If you read my other post this week, or even last week’s poem post, you might be able to tell that there’s kind of a lot going on right now, and it doesn’t feel like a very celebratory time. Then again, last month didn’t feel very celebratory, either, but, through all these challenges that have been coming up, I’ve been able to see a difference in how I’ve navigated them, how I’ve reacted, and any progress, any victory should be celebrated.

1. Managing big emotions – Recently, I was on a call with my husband when something came up that triggered a huge emotional response. It’s tied to some of the long laundry list of issues I’m going to be working through, but it’s a known sore spot. Normally, when it gets poked, it feels like lighting a match near a leaking gas line. This time, I felt the feelings coming up and told him that some big feelings were coming up, so I was hanging up before I said something I regretted. It’s not something I’m used to doing, handling my emotions before engaging in conflict, but it’s something I’ve been trying to do, and I’ve noticed that it’s been easier to find resolution each time I’m able to take the time to work through the big emotions, rather than let them take the reins.
2. Feeling the feelings – And there have been a lot of them. There has been overwhelm, there has been happiness, and there has been sadness. I’ve let myself feel the feelings, rather than trying to quiet them with negative self talk or comfort food. One night, I was feeling heartbroken and sobbing on the bed, letting myself work through the feeling, and I felt someone sit down next to me. My 3 year old son had climbed onto the bed and curled up next to me. I felt his little hand on my arm, and heard him say softly, “Oh dear.” And then, “It’ll be OK, Mommy.” Looking back, even though, in the moment, things felt really rough around the edges, there was so much progress there. I was feeling the feelings and allowing myself to cry, and my kiddo not only saw that it’s OK to feel big feelings, but he also exhibited an amazing amount of compassion. For that, I am so proud of him, and it encourages me as a parent.
3. Setting limits and boundaries – Because there’s been so much going on lately, and because I’ve been feeling so stretched thin, I’ve had to set some boundaries, and even say no to some things that I historically would have said yes to. This is definitely something that has been a recurring theme over the last two Victories posts, but, until it is habit and something I do naturally, I will celebrate it.

I know I still have a long way to go, and that’s OK, but the fact that these victories aren’t always material things anymore is, to me, it’s own victory of sorts. 3 months ago, I struggled to see any progress at all in this journey. Today, I look back at who I was just 8 months ago, and I am finally starting to see how far I’ve come.

What victories do you want to celebrate today? Does it encourage you when you can see your progress in whatever you’re working on?