I woke up this morning to something I didn’t expect. Two different communities had mentioned me. I mean my name, right there, among the winners of their prompt contests. For a moment, I just stared at it, half-awake, trying to be sure I wasn’t imagining things because I dream a lot about my successes here on Hive but when I wake up, I realize it’s just a dream.
But this one was real and just like that, my Sunday felt different.
I don’t know if it’s just me or there’s someone else who can relate to the warmth that comes with being recognized, especially when you weren’t even sure you still had it in you. It’s been a while since I received that kind of notification, and if I’m being honest, a part of me had started to believe that maybe I had lost whatever it takes to win something. It’s just a creeping doubt that settles in when things don’t go my way for a while.
Still, I kept trying each time I came across these contests and that’s the part that matters most.
This win, as small as it may seem, feels bigger than the title attached to it. It is my own reminder and a soft nudge telling me that I’m not as far off as I sometimes think. That effort, even when it feels unnoticed, is still building toward something.
It is also my reminder that growth mostly doesn’t show up when we’re expecting. It surprises us just like mine has surprised me on this random Sunday morning. I smiled, like really smiled.
And for a moment, I allowed myself to feel proud. Not just of the win, but of the fact that I didn’t stop trying, even when I felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere. Lol. I just enjoyed the whole writing process and the fact that there was something relatable about the prompts.
It’s funny, though but I caught myself thinking that if I got around to updating my CV, I’m definitely putting this there because why not? We can celebrate the little things right? I mean free will so we can always document the moments that remind us we’re doing better than we give ourselves credit for.
This might be a small win in the grand scheme of things. But today, it feels like everything. More of a reassurance and a kind of motivation to keep going. And honestly? That’s more than enough.
Happy Sunday💕