Finally Stopping to Smell the Roses (and Realizing That I Am One)

Many of us are perfectionist and so driven, that we never stop and celebrate our wins.

I’ve been on the go-go-go train for so long, that I forgot what the wins even looked like, let alone that I should maybe stop for a minute. For years, my internal monologue has been a relentless loop: “Okay, what’s next? That was good, but how can it be better? Don’t get too comfortable.” Every success, every milestone achieved, was immediately filed away as “completed,” and my sights were already set on the next summit.

It's an exhausting way to live, and honestly, a pretty ungrateful one. I was achieving things I’d once only dreamed of, whether it was finally starting my company, landing a big contract, or simply managing grief with grace. But I never paused to pop the champagne—metaphorically or literally. The finish line of one race just became the starting line of another.

I was treating my accomplishments like standard maintenance instead of personal victories.

I realized that by skipping the celebration, I wasn’t just being humble; I was robbing myself of crucial things:

* Acknowledging that it was worth the struggle and I did it.

* Believing that when the next hard thing comes along I can overcome it.

* Enjoying the results of my hard work.

So, I’m changing my narrative. I’m finally making a conscious effort to stop, look back, and be genuinely proud of the person I am and the things I’ve done.

I spent time reading some of my old blogs, to simply acknowledge the obstacles I’ve overcome. It felt incredible—like getting a pep talk from my past self.

If you’re like the “old me” and you constantly minimize your efforts, I’m telling you now: Stop. Pour that drink, call that friend, take a long walk just for you. Your hard work deserves more than a quick nod before you rush onto the next thing.

Celebrate yourself. You earned it!