We don’t always notice how far we’ve come because progress rarely makes noise. It doesn’t announce itself with confetti or trumpets. It shows up quietly — in the way you handle things that once broke you, in the calm that’s replaced chaos, in the peace you’ve earned one hard day at a time.
A year ago, you might have doubted what you’re now doing with ease. You might have felt stuck in a place that today feels like a lifetime away. Growth is funny that way — it doesn’t happen in one big leap but in countless little steps that don’t look like much until you glance back and realize you’ve climbed an entire mountain.
So take a breath. You’ve done more than survive — you’ve adapted, learned, and evolved. You’ve turned uncertainty into strength, pain into perspective, and hesitation into motion. Maybe you don’t give yourself enough credit for that.
You don’t need to have everything figured out to be proud of yourself. Pride isn’t only for the finish line — it belongs in the middle of the race too. It’s okay to pause and say, “I’ve come a long way,” even if you’re still on the road.
Because you have. You’re already so far from where you used to be. And that, in itself, is worth celebrating.
Kenrick Vaz 