To ask what is the proudest you've ever been of yourself?

[needapickmeup]

Sorry for the strange sounding title I couldn't think of how to phrase the question!!!
Been a bit stuck for motivation really - got lots of things I need to get done that I KNOW I can do, just been feeling a bit low.

So help me out guys!!! Tell me stories of when you've made yourself really proud. Get me motivated!!!

Graduating medical school and becoming a doctor. It was a struggle financially and emotionally without any family support.

Ended the cycle of abuse

I am proud how I dealt with my ex husband's death, how we all came together and supported one another. It might not sound like much but it really helped the children to see us all together and being close friends. I am proud we made that work and their last memories of me and their dad are ones of kindness and love.

Passing my driving test in my 30's.

I am proud every time I deal with a MH crisis with my husband. I had to learn a hell of a lot and most of the time I'm on my own with it and have to trust my own judgment. I am proud of how well I deal with it.

I was proud as hell when I got my first job after having children and completed my access course with mostly distinctions.

I am proud right now because for a few months I have been successfully managing my OCD and Health Anxiety and life has never been better.

Sorry, I picked a few things. It's nice to think about the stuff you have done well. There are some great stories here.

When the examiner came to observe a lesson of mine when I was on my final teaching practice (for the second time!) and at the end I was told I'd passed - showered the children with sweeties!

When I got what I needed to get into Uni

When I passed my driving test.

Just after giving birth, first to DD and then a couple of years later to DS.

Watching my children in various shows and concerts.

I will be proud of myself if I complete and pass my studies this year too - my first counselling qualification

And also I think if DD gets what she needs to go off to Uni this autumn.

When my A level artwork was assessed the examiner told my teacher that it was degree level work!

When I passed my driving test, I found that scarier than birth

I'm proud of myself for making it through university whilst being a single mum. There are people on my course who admit to struggling to look after themselves never mind a child!

But, I think my proudest moment will be later this year when I get to graduate with my son there who had just turned one when I started at University. I wouldn't have gone if it wasn't for him and I wouldn't be the motivated, confident and happy person I am today!

Not pooping when giving birth.

I left school with two Highers (you need five in one sitting to get into uni) due to pissing about for my last two years of school.

I've worked my way up as a university admin since leaving school, did two years of night classes to get an HNC and then was accepted into third year of a distance learning degree (through a brick uni). I'm halfway through and my grades are in the distinction range, having never written at a university level previously. I hope to have my masters the year I turn 30, which isn't shabby considering my school grades

I seem to be most proud when DD gets commended for things like her behaviour and manners and how settled she is. I kind of feel like being a Mum is my most important job so it's nice to know I must be doing something right. I was proud when I started my own business and I'm proud I'm nearly finished my first year of uni as a mature student while being pregnant. There's things we could all do better but I think we should all be proud of the things we try really hard at :)

Have to share about my mum instead.

My parents lived in a big house with a big garage and cellar and it was completely packed with stuff, just a narrow path through each room. Over 24 years in that house, the hoarding had got out of hand. During my dad's long terminal illness, neither of them wanted to take on the big job of clearing it.

When he died, she realised that she had no close friends or family and didn't want to stay in that town. It was her ambition to move in with my sister 700 miles away, but she was shackled to the house with all that stuff in it. So she got to work, clearing and sorting. Every day she worked for a couple of hours on some manageable task. She hired a skip for the rubbish. Every time there was enough usable stuff sorted, she called the charity shop to come collect a vanful.

After nine months of hard work the house was clear, the rubbish was gone, and she was left with a modest amount of stuff which was beautiful or useful or meaningful (which had been hidden/lost under piles of junk). She and my sis bought a house together and mum filled the granny flat with her lovely things.

I am something of a packrat myself but I am SO inspired by my mum. I often tell myself, if she can do that, I can surely clear out a cupboard today.

I do have some big and more consequential ones, but the thing that I was most chuffed about and still makes me smile:

Managing to communicate in Japanese in a take-out burger place that I would like to have my drink now (while I wait for my food) please.

This will possibly come across boastful but it isn't meant that way. There are lots of things that I am told I should be proud of academically and in my job but I find/found that quite easy.
I am most proud of surviving the death of both of most of my relatives (grandparents, parents, my baby son, multiple miscarriages) over a three year period, whilst supporting my sister in completing her degree and bringing up my newborn.
Not sure how we, my sister and I, survived it but I am really proud of us both.

Years ago, as part of my therapy for MH, I was asked to write down something that I had achieved. I can remember staring at the paper and thinking that there was nothing in my life that I could call an achievement. The suggestions that the therapist made: an act of kindness, living independently and so on, all seemed to emphasise to me that I had no 'real' achievements in almost thirty years of my life.

Now my list would include: gaining a first class honour degree, Masters and PhD (the last two whilst working and bringing up my children); having two fantastic children; establishing a career in an area of real interest and (perhaps most importantly) learning that achievement starts with tiny steps. Leaving hospital and living independently was the first step for me.

So, plod on with the degree. Just do a little bit each day and you will be amazed how quickly the assignments can be finished.

Passing my driving test first time
Losing 7 1/2 stone
Becoming a teacher when I was painfully quiet at school and at university would avoid any module with a presentation (by the end of the course I was getting a little more confident but teacher training was one of the most challenging thing I've done. Luckily I love my job!)
Having dd and getting through pg which was a dark difficult time for me with anxiety and pregnancy nausea meaning I was signed off work for the duration of pregnancy (I'm emetophobic so this was a real challenge)
Bfing dd despite multiple issues with it. It took weeks of agony and problems but I'm genuinely proud of myself for sticking with it and managing to do it

Qualifying as a teacher
Giving birth to my Daughter
Buying my first house

Reastie I could have written your post :-)

Having two babies for my friends who couldn't conceive.

Bf my own three and them never dropping an ounce in weight.

Getting back into work after 7 years out as a SAHM and being offered partnership whilst on maternity leave after our last surrobabe.

There's plenty I'm not proud of though, plenty.

5 years ago I had no job, no experience other than working in shops, lived with my mum and had to have surgery to have one of my ovaries removed. My dad had recently died and I was at a low point. I genuinely thought I'd never do anything wth my life or have a family.

I have managed in that time to get engaged, live in a lovely home with my fiancé (can't take credit for that one as he ones it) I have a job in a senior position managing a small staff team and (best of all) I'm 37 weeks pregnant

Life is still not perfect - I have financial problems (don't we all) but I am doing my best to get them sorted. I don't care though. I'm going to have my boy at last. I spent so many nights sobbing my heart out on DPs shoulder because I thought I would never have a child (usually after the pub!) the day I have him will be the best day of my life.

Mine is nothing compared to what others have done but I had a bit of a moment yesterday while I was driving my dd1 back from gymnastics class. I had her and dd2 sitting in the back of the car while I drove us all home. 3 years ago I had a car crash (funnily enough driving to gymnastics!) that really shook me up and I stopped driving. I recently realised I had to start again. I'm very pregnant and was really struggling with the long school run, shopping etc. I really didn't think I could do it but so far it has been terrifying but okay.

The feeling of pulling up outside the house and thinking "I did it" was great.

What a nice thread!

For me, it was starting a new career in my 40s after several years as a SAHM.

'Having two babies for my friends who couldn't conceive.'

South that was an amazing thing to do