A few years ago, someone very dear to me said: “Celebrate even the smallest wins.” He was referring to how the teams and drivers in F1 celebrate each point as if it were the biggest win of the race.
At the time, I wasn’t a huge fan of sports, so I never understood how someone who didn’t come in first could still celebrate so much. Now, I (voluntarily) watch tennis and F1, and I get it. I understand what it means to celebrate even when you’re losing by three sets or points - how a great shot can be enough to prove to yourself that you still have it, that those small losses don’t define your play, your mindset, or your passion to win.
I’m a tennis fan now, and I love seeing how players shift their mentality point by point. They have to focus on tactics, try to win each rally, stay composed, and somehow also interact with people - all while running, sweating, and chasing titles. But it’s not just about winning. Just last weekend, during the Wimbledon finals, after Carlos Alcaraz lost, someone at the press conference asked how disappointed he was. And he said: “I’m just happy to be in the finals of Wimbledon. I’m smiling not because I lost, but because I made it here and had an amazing match.” That’s what it means to live a life where you celebrate the small wins. A 22-years old with five Grand Slams, losing his streak at one of the biggest tournaments - and still smiling. That’s enjoying your work and having fun, even if you didn’t get the result you wanted.
Sinner and Alcaraz after the match - Wimbledon 2025
And I think it’s kind of the same in life. We’re constantly trying to be the best - at work, with friends, with ourselves. For me, it’s like: I have to be the best dressed or I’ve lost my style. I have to walk 10,000 steps a day or I’m lazy. I have to read at least five books a month or I’m not the reader I claim to be. But literally no one is counting. No one’s tracking how many pages you read or whether you meal-prepped or cleaned your kitchen. It’s just you, putting pressure on yourself, instead of letting yourself be happy.
I’m not going to say, “Be grateful you have a body and can move and walk and blah blah,” even though that’s true. What I mean is: maybe you didn’t work out 5/5 times this week, but you did twice - and your body needed rest, and you listened. Maybe your screen time went down for a day. Maybe you read 30 pages during a week full of social events, work stress, and no real downtime. That’s something.
Back to tennis (I’m a new fan, OK? There’s a lot to say), I’m always struck by how players celebrate each point like it’s the final one. When they yell “Let’s go!” at themselves or let out a smile after a really good shot. Yes, the score matters - but they look like they’re enjoying every moment on the court, not just counting games and sets. Sometimes they’re down badly, but then something shifts - they find a spark and start turning things around.
I think life is kind of like that. A long match. Sometimes you’re up, sometimes you’re down. Sometimes you lose and have to figure out what went wrong. And sometimes you feel totally lost and need to find your way back to yourself - even if you’re losing badly. No, I’m not about to become a guru saying “Enjoy the journey, not the destination,” or start manifesting my way through life. Absolutely not. But sometimes, when life doesn’t go how you planned - when those things you worked so hard for just aren’t showing up - maybe it’s not because you failed. Maybe they just weren’t meant to arrive yet. And even so, you’ve done some amazing things to get where you are.
This is off-topic but related: as a woman, ofc I’ve been obsessed with my weight and body and the size of my jeans. I don’t eat sugar, I don’t drink alcohol, I try to be “healthy.” But every time I give in to a sugar craving, I feel guilty. I beat myself up because my body feels inflamed and I think I look bigger. But here’s the thing: when I eat something sweet and don’t let that negative voice get loud, nothing happens. My body doesn’t change. The only difference is my mindset - and in the second scenario, I actually enjoyed my dessert.
So (please read this ironically): let’s try to enjoy the ride, not the destination. Let’s celebrate the little things and let ourselves feel good.
HAHA I can’t. But seriously - I mean it. Celebrate the small wins. Stop obsessing over the final product. Take things step by step. You had a delicious coffee. You cooked something new and it turned out amazing. You didn’t work out five days this week, but you moved your body three times even though work was a lot.
That negative voice - the one that sometimes gets louder and louder - only makes you treat yourself badly. And you don’t deserve to be so harsh on yourself. It’s your first time living life, too.
Please tell me if I sound like a dumbass (hopefully not!!). And thank you for reading.
Cheers!