This is a small win

To be honest...

I pulled out my laptop, sat down, came here because today was the last day to enter a challenge to write about small, everyday wins. I have a thing or two to say about this subject, considering life has been a series of tiny wins, and mine maybe a tad more than usual.

Wracking my mind, I didn't know from what angle, which experience to approach this from. I came so close to not giving this any time of day.

I've entered a number of these challenges and not a single work of mine made any sort of placement. I'm tired, both sleepy and tired from the confusion and chaos of life. Of putting forth effort after effort and seemingly not getting anywhere far. Pride was rising up, telling me I'm foolish to keep putting my work out there to never get much acknowledgment so why bother. I also have work in the morning.

You see, it was a win to just get here. In the span of a few minutes, I had fought a battle on multiple fronts and came out victorious. Because, just showing up, that's what the big victory is made of. Showing up, again and again. While tired, while hurting, in whatever condition because you gave your word and something has to be done.

Showing up is underrated. We think we have to be in a certain condition, or have all our ducks in a row before showing up, but really that holds you back. Typically, once you show up, wherever that is, you will out forth the effort since you're already there and the time won't be wasted.

The most success I've had on a fitness journey was when I made a strict rule of putting my sneakers on and starting the workout even if it was super late already or I was tired. I told myself, "just 5 minutes today". Some days, I managed to do 30 minutes and others really were the 5 minutes. Those days didn't do much physically to change me, but psychologically it was everything. It kept the momentum going. And just keeping the momentum going, bought me closer to my goal than the times I waited to feel like doing it.

Will this become successful in any way? Will anyone read it in its entirety? Time will tell. But I'm proud I stuck to my word of trying to enter as many of these as I can to stretch myself as a writer. A baby writer, but still one, nonetheless.

Improvements of any kind is also a win. Each improvement is like a solitary footstep, and a journey is made up of nothing but many solitary footsteps. I am better at the creative process now since writing more, than before I started. If I keep going inevitably, I'd get where I want to be.

This is where I want to call it quits. I'm not sure what else I have to say about the time I had to piece together a piece about small wins for a challenge on Vocal, especially at 10pm. But it has to be at least 600 words so I will keep going and talk about how I had to persevere. Showing up is beautiful. But in itself it won't get you there unless you go to the end. The end if often the hardest as you've spent your resources, your energy, enthusiam, what have you and still have to go. But the finish line being in sight certainly helps a ton!

You're right there.

Remember the like 600 steps you took to finish.

Cross the finish line.

You just won another battle and should be proud!