What are you proud of?

[EssexLioness]

I am mid 40s and realise I haven’t done anything that I am particularly proud of with my life. My life has been one lacking in achievement, even though I am generally very happy. Just feels like a waste to never have really achieved much.

You've achieved being happy. That's what it's all about.

Are you sure you’re not depressed OP? I have similar thoughts when I’m going down with a bout of depression and now I see them as a warning light. A time to up my rest and self care, connect with people who value me.

No I’m not depressed though I do feel like I’ve wasted my life/ bit of a failure. I have no kids but only work a few hours a week because I struggle with autism. I do volunteer for a few hours too but I struggle to hold down a job/ keep a tidy home etc. I am not stupid but feel like everything has gone downhill since I left school. Teachers predicted great things for me but it hasn’t happened.

You volunteer even though you struggle with keeping a job as you are autistic. I'd say that's something to be proud of!
I was more proud of passing my gcse maths than my degree because I sat it 5 times and cannot do maths. I think you shouldn't give yourself a hard time. X

Thank you @clarepetal. Well done on getting your maths gcse. I used to find maths hard and it’s great you kept on going till you got there!

You should be proud of your volunteering work. That's pretty selfless op.

@sophienelisse thank you, it doesn’t feel selfless though because it isn’t particularly taxing and I really enjoy it

But not everyone offers to do it though do they.

Don't play it down. Your obv doing a good thing. If you enjoy it your more likely to continue doing it.

Xx

Ah op, apart from my having kids, I have not achieved what I was expected to in life. I had huge promise, but health and circumstances got in the way.
I found looking at the many, many tiny blessings of life turned me around over time. Life is about those little things and they are many. So, I didn't become a successful journalist or as successful as my siblings but that doesn't matte a damn! Life is to be appreciated for what it is, in all its pain and glory. Look for the miracles, the sun, the rain, the birds, they are all around us. Spend time outdoors, try to take exercise, walking, anything. I hope you can find peace xx

Be proud of anything, even small things.

My biggest achievement in life was passing my driving test (about 15 yrs ago) because for me learning to drive was very difficult and I didn't think I would ever pass.

Anything you manage to do, even making yourself a cup of tea when you feel rubbish is an accomplishment.

Don't be so hard on yourself

Good point @sophienelisse, that’s very true.

Thank you @beattieedny I do appreciate the small things, although it probably doesn’t seem like it from this post.

@Chickenwing2 I love that. I passed aged 30, and although I love driving now, learning did not come naturally. Learning to drive is definitely an achievement to be proud of

@sophienelisse

You've achieved being happy. That's what it's all about.

This :) Congratulations!

I am proud that despite suffering with depression and not doing that great in school, losing my Dad suddenly when he wasn’t even old that I am here. I have a half decent job. I don’t earn lots but I get by, I’ve managed to secure a home, build a happy marriage and am raising a beautiful child. I am proud that I don’t need to be achieving all kinds of huge things to feel happy and settled.

Op I too haven't achieved anything remarkable and I don't have DC.
But I'm happy with my lot and reasonably financially comfortable and people like me- I think that's an achievement

My career hasn't worked out in the way I expected but I still enjoy my job.

I am good at my hobby (photography) and have managed to win a few small competitions with it. I've also sold a couple but it's not anything mega that I can really show off about; that doesn't matter though because I do it for fun rather than anything else.

My dc are pains in the arse but I love them very much. I don't see them as an achievement though because that's just biology.

In short then, I'm proud of small scale stuff rather than huge accolades but it doesn't really matter.

@FreezyFreezy well done on the photography. My ex was a professional photographer and there is a real art in it. I would love to be able to take beautiful photos

My kids
Some of my creations have been very successful- unfortunately I didn’t get money for it
Having ok mental health after years of struggling
Being fairly fit- I could be much better

Probably the biggest thing I am proud of for myself is learning to be disciplined after years of being lazy. Wish I had learned this as an early teen!

I am proud of teaching ds how to read and write.

I am proud of the qualifications I have, my job, my kids and how they've turned out and my long- term relationship (over three decades.) yup.

Don't forget too that much of what you may think wasn't much of an achievement (because you enjoy it, for example) is a big thing, it's not only those things that challenge us.