Are you proud of how far you've come along in life?
I’m so proud of myself as of how far I’ve come along from such a dark place.
Starting fresh. Starting positive. Starting new on here.
Long story shot: I look back in March and realized how horrible, terrifying and dark it was for me to be in such a depressed state of mind. I never saw friends. I pushed away family. Work was making me feel worse. It was scary and miserable and I just had constant negative thoughts running through my head everyday. Knowing I haven’t been happy in well over a year at that time, it all kind of just added to it.
Come to now, I’ve met someone who I am now spending the rest of my life with-who appreciates me for me and who wants to be with me and accepts me for what I enjoy doing and spending time with family. I got offered a new job where my family all works at where I know I can grow and become more stable with my life and future family. I’ve moved out of my home with the guy I’m spending my life with and it just all feels comfortable. I got involved with sports again and being active and meeting several people along the way. I never really got to express my feelings towards anyone and I know this isn’t exactly expressing all of them, but it’s something! Things are constantly looking up and I’m so grateful to be where I am. I feel so grateful to have the things that happened, because it wouldn’t lead me to where I am now.
It only continues to get better from here. I’m so proud of how far I’ve come
For the first time in my life, I have more than two people to invite to my birthday party coming up. And these people, for once, have not been picked by my mother. I took a step back from the Internet, and focussed on myself for a little while and the results are amazing. I’ve become so much more confident in myself and my physical and mental abilities. I’ve made more Friends than I ever thought that I would be able to, and even people who didn’t like me before, and thought that I was annoying, have actually started to hang out with me. I’m happy with my life for the first time in so long, nearing the end of high school. I’m actually struggling to pick who to have at my birthday because I have so many friends now. I think that me from elementary and middle school, coming home crying with no friends- would be so very happy, to know that it does get better. To anybody who reads this and is in my old shoes, feeling alone and anxious- I promise you it does get better, but the first step- at least for me- is to rely on yourself, and focus on yourself. Man if I think back at myself 1 and a half years ago I am almost moves to tears, because of how far I have come. When I was in secondary school I had only 1 friend and apart from him no social life, or any other social contacts.
I did very little exercise highest twice a week, and I didn't challenge myself mentally or physically I just spent all of my time Infront of my computer watching anime or series or on my PS4 playing games. On weekends I could spend 16 hours with my PC and PS4 easily, without talking to anyone. This went on for 4 years and my social skills and said esteem where at an all time low in my life.
I especially struggled with girls, once in school a girl approached me and said I had nice eyes, I tried to continue the conversation but my knees where shaking and she noticed how nervous I was.
I couldn't speak up for myself if anyone disrespected me, or stick to my own values.
I struggled with making friends and I struggled with negative and self destructive thoughts.
I knew that this couldn't continue like this because I was definitely going to develop a depression. So I decided to take action.
I decided to go to Nigeria for 6 months (I am Nigerian but lived in the UK). That was the best decision I've ever made. Because that was the beginning of my success.
In Nigeria I constantly challenged myself. I had no WiFi or computer so I had to read and socialize as my only means of amusement. I'd go out every evening on the street and just walk about and meet new people. Every night.
During the day I would read books instead of wasting my time on YouTube or watching Netflix.
I also worked and took on many challenging jobs, I worked in a mortuary and as a construction labourer digging foundations in the Nigerian bush with poisonous ants crawling on my feet, and bleeding hands and only 500ml of water for hours on end. I constantly went outside of my comfort zone !
I also met girls and went on dates for the first time, and I also lost my virginity. And I was even in a life threatening situation where I got caught by a girls boyfriend when we where seeing each other, he and his gang wanted to beat me but I looked them in the eye and calmed the situation and exited peacefully.
But the 6 months in Nigeria were nowhere near enough for me as I saw that my self growth was no where near done. I still had so much to work on, I wanted to improve my social skills with new people (at this point my social skills with friends where at a normal level). I wanted to learn how to approach girls on the street. I wanted to be able to have a positive self image and a fully healthy self esteem. And I am proud to say that I have come soo so far by constantly working on myself.
On Friday I hosted a party at my house. I invited many people from my other class and I didn't even know them, I just went up to them out of the blue and invited them !!! Then I have joined many many classes and clubs t meet new people and to put myself out there. I have started martial arts. And this month of January I have approached 3. Yes THREE, absolutely STUNNING girls I saw on the street. Every one of them was a 10/10. And 2 of them I approached them when they where with a group of friends. This is something I didn't believe was possible. I now have many many friends and we do things together almost every day! No weekend exist where I'm all alone in my room anymore. I always meet my friends, and we go out and have a blast ! Man at this point I wish that I had just a weekend to myself to relax XD.
I also have become much much fitter I can run 10km without any difficulties and my physique has never been better. I meditate daily and I am LOVING my life.
When I look in the mirror I see a handsome intelligent motivated young man before I used to see a skinny ugly, unfunny , uninteresting good for nothing.
When I think of myself I think of how great I am and how much with I have, before I used to think of how I couldn't achieve what I wanted to achieve.
I am unlimitedly happy with my progress I'm making in my life and with myself.
But the scary part is that this is just the beginning... Look back at where you came from and let yourself feel proud about your progress.
Remember how far you’ve come, not just how far you have to go. You are not where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be.
You’ve come so far. Take this moment to remember where you’ve come from, to remember all that you’ve been through. Now close your eyes, take in a deep breath and as you slowly exhale, say to yourself... “I’m so proud of you”. I ended up hitting the gym relentlessly with a serious case of revenge-body. I rekindled my old friendships and got a lot closer than I ever thought with people I'd always known, and dove headlong into something I've always been interested in- rock climbing.
I just wanted to say that I am so proud of myself. I turned my life around for the better, and everyday I look at myself in the mirror I see such a talented individual, destined to do great things. Things even larger than my life, things that could impact generations to come.
I went from being an alcoholic, sleeping with old men for money, evading the police, being homeless, having zero money in my bank account, dropping out of college, unemployed, and surviving a suicide attempt...to being employed, finding my passion, studying what i want, going back to school, teaching myself skills, starting a business, and working on projects that I'm extremely passionate about with the support of my coworkers, friends, and my significant other.
In that hobby I've found many more friends, a great way to pass the time and reinforce an active, healthy lifestyle, and banked enough money to get the tattoos I've wanted.
Yeah, I am. I've overcame my suicidal tendencies. I used to cut to remind myself I'm alive, I would pray while driving a car would hit me. I haven't overcome depression but that overwhelming blackness that I used to down in comes few and far between now. I'm an engineering major, I have a girlfriend I love and can say honestly I'm happy. It doesn't matter I'm a little behind in school. I'm happy I've made it past that and to here. It's weird to think about in retrospect. I was all ready to settle for a future with a lesser me as long as someone else was in it. Now that I'm alone, I'm free to become everything I wish I was. I do get lonely from time to time, but I've decided that I won't be picked out by someone ever again to be their companion. My next partner will be my choice, not someone who got to pick last. My life is in transition right now, so it's not even something that I can really focus on. I don't feel accomplished yet. I am proud of who I've been so far though, with some reservations (everyone screws up sometimes). I try to be fair, nice, and loving to everyone I know or meet. I try to be the person that my parents want me to be. Of course, I've had plenty of failures to do so, but I still try to fulfill that ideal everyday. My dad's been a marine for 26 years and has been a great role model to look up to. He's been extremely caring and helpful despite a ridiculously busy work schedule. I hope to be half the family man that he has been to me and my siblings. I'm still young and trying to set myself up to accomplish things in the future that I can be proud of. I try to do as much community service as a busy college schedule and social life allows. I might join the marine corps after I finish up at school for four years. I know a lot of people here might not think that's such an admirable endeavor, but I have my own reasons for wanting to do it and I think it will be something that I look back on with pride. I want to help fix the messes we've made in Afghanistan and elsewhere and I consider myself a strong enough person to protect people that can't protect themselves. I don't consider myself conservative. Hell, I don't even consider myself a moderate on a lot of issues. It will be an apolitical decision if I decide to do so. On the good side: Considering the extremely poor upbringing I had, I'm more healthy and well adjusted than one would probably expect. I've had a small handful of beautiful (and unforgettable) experiences in life.
On the bad side: I work so hard I literally work the skin off my fingers - and even after working that hard, I still can't seem to get a head. I'm turning 36 this week and still living paycheck to paycheck. Thats not a very positive realization to have on the week of your birthday. Hmm. I know I've accomplished more academically and professionally at the young age of 24 than most are able to do in their entire lives - got a Bachelor's and Master's from arguably the best school in the world, work in a job I enjoy for an elite group in one of the top funds in the world, have a great apartment, good friends, a great girlfriend... hell, I've even got an Erdős number of 4!
Still, it's hard to be proud, since I don't feel as if I've ever had to struggle for any of that. As superficial as it may seem, I am proud of being healthy and in-shape more than the arguably more important, yet easier, other things in my life. Especially coming out of a very unhealthy adolescence, I can look at that, see the struggle, and be proud of the effort it took to overcome it. That fact really cuts down into the psyche on what it takes to be proud, and shows that pride is much more a function of the journey than of the outcome.
Starting fresh. Starting positive. Starting new on here.
Long story shot: I look back in March and realized how horrible, terrifying and dark it was for me to be in such a depressed state of mind. I never saw friends. I pushed away family. Work was making me feel worse. It was scary and miserable and I just had constant negative thoughts running through my head everyday. Knowing I haven’t been happy in well over a year at that time, it all kind of just added to it.
Come to now, I’ve met someone who I am now spending the rest of my life with-who appreciates me for me and who wants to be with me and accepts me for what I enjoy doing and spending time with family. I got offered a new job where my family all works at where I know I can grow and become more stable with my life and future family. I’ve moved out of my home with the guy I’m spending my life with and it just all feels comfortable. I got involved with sports again and being active and meeting several people along the way. I never really got to express my feelings towards anyone and I know this isn’t exactly expressing all of them, but it’s something! Things are constantly looking up and I’m so grateful to be where I am. I feel so grateful to have the things that happened, because it wouldn’t lead me to where I am now.
It only continues to get better from here. I’m so proud of how far I’ve come
For the first time in my life, I have more than two people to invite to my birthday party coming up. And these people, for once, have not been picked by my mother. I took a step back from the Internet, and focussed on myself for a little while and the results are amazing. I’ve become so much more confident in myself and my physical and mental abilities. I’ve made more Friends than I ever thought that I would be able to, and even people who didn’t like me before, and thought that I was annoying, have actually started to hang out with me. I’m happy with my life for the first time in so long, nearing the end of high school. I’m actually struggling to pick who to have at my birthday because I have so many friends now. I think that me from elementary and middle school, coming home crying with no friends- would be so very happy, to know that it does get better. To anybody who reads this and is in my old shoes, feeling alone and anxious- I promise you it does get better, but the first step- at least for me- is to rely on yourself, and focus on yourself. Man if I think back at myself 1 and a half years ago I am almost moves to tears, because of how far I have come. When I was in secondary school I had only 1 friend and apart from him no social life, or any other social contacts.
I did very little exercise highest twice a week, and I didn't challenge myself mentally or physically I just spent all of my time Infront of my computer watching anime or series or on my PS4 playing games. On weekends I could spend 16 hours with my PC and PS4 easily, without talking to anyone. This went on for 4 years and my social skills and said esteem where at an all time low in my life.
I especially struggled with girls, once in school a girl approached me and said I had nice eyes, I tried to continue the conversation but my knees where shaking and she noticed how nervous I was.
I couldn't speak up for myself if anyone disrespected me, or stick to my own values.
I struggled with making friends and I struggled with negative and self destructive thoughts.
I knew that this couldn't continue like this because I was definitely going to develop a depression. So I decided to take action.
I decided to go to Nigeria for 6 months (I am Nigerian but lived in the UK). That was the best decision I've ever made. Because that was the beginning of my success.
In Nigeria I constantly challenged myself. I had no WiFi or computer so I had to read and socialize as my only means of amusement. I'd go out every evening on the street and just walk about and meet new people. Every night.
During the day I would read books instead of wasting my time on YouTube or watching Netflix.
I also worked and took on many challenging jobs, I worked in a mortuary and as a construction labourer digging foundations in the Nigerian bush with poisonous ants crawling on my feet, and bleeding hands and only 500ml of water for hours on end. I constantly went outside of my comfort zone !
I also met girls and went on dates for the first time, and I also lost my virginity. And I was even in a life threatening situation where I got caught by a girls boyfriend when we where seeing each other, he and his gang wanted to beat me but I looked them in the eye and calmed the situation and exited peacefully.
But the 6 months in Nigeria were nowhere near enough for me as I saw that my self growth was no where near done. I still had so much to work on, I wanted to improve my social skills with new people (at this point my social skills with friends where at a normal level). I wanted to learn how to approach girls on the street. I wanted to be able to have a positive self image and a fully healthy self esteem. And I am proud to say that I have come soo so far by constantly working on myself.
On Friday I hosted a party at my house. I invited many people from my other class and I didn't even know them, I just went up to them out of the blue and invited them !!! Then I have joined many many classes and clubs t meet new people and to put myself out there. I have started martial arts. And this month of January I have approached 3. Yes THREE, absolutely STUNNING girls I saw on the street. Every one of them was a 10/10. And 2 of them I approached them when they where with a group of friends. This is something I didn't believe was possible. I now have many many friends and we do things together almost every day! No weekend exist where I'm all alone in my room anymore. I always meet my friends, and we go out and have a blast ! Man at this point I wish that I had just a weekend to myself to relax XD.
I also have become much much fitter I can run 10km without any difficulties and my physique has never been better. I meditate daily and I am LOVING my life.
When I look in the mirror I see a handsome intelligent motivated young man before I used to see a skinny ugly, unfunny , uninteresting good for nothing.
When I think of myself I think of how great I am and how much with I have, before I used to think of how I couldn't achieve what I wanted to achieve.
I am unlimitedly happy with my progress I'm making in my life and with myself.
But the scary part is that this is just the beginning... Look back at where you came from and let yourself feel proud about your progress.
Remember how far you’ve come, not just how far you have to go. You are not where you want to be, but neither are you where you used to be.
You’ve come so far. Take this moment to remember where you’ve come from, to remember all that you’ve been through. Now close your eyes, take in a deep breath and as you slowly exhale, say to yourself... “I’m so proud of you”. I ended up hitting the gym relentlessly with a serious case of revenge-body. I rekindled my old friendships and got a lot closer than I ever thought with people I'd always known, and dove headlong into something I've always been interested in- rock climbing.
I just wanted to say that I am so proud of myself. I turned my life around for the better, and everyday I look at myself in the mirror I see such a talented individual, destined to do great things. Things even larger than my life, things that could impact generations to come.
I went from being an alcoholic, sleeping with old men for money, evading the police, being homeless, having zero money in my bank account, dropping out of college, unemployed, and surviving a suicide attempt...to being employed, finding my passion, studying what i want, going back to school, teaching myself skills, starting a business, and working on projects that I'm extremely passionate about with the support of my coworkers, friends, and my significant other.
In that hobby I've found many more friends, a great way to pass the time and reinforce an active, healthy lifestyle, and banked enough money to get the tattoos I've wanted.
Yeah, I am. I've overcame my suicidal tendencies. I used to cut to remind myself I'm alive, I would pray while driving a car would hit me. I haven't overcome depression but that overwhelming blackness that I used to down in comes few and far between now. I'm an engineering major, I have a girlfriend I love and can say honestly I'm happy. It doesn't matter I'm a little behind in school. I'm happy I've made it past that and to here. It's weird to think about in retrospect. I was all ready to settle for a future with a lesser me as long as someone else was in it. Now that I'm alone, I'm free to become everything I wish I was. I do get lonely from time to time, but I've decided that I won't be picked out by someone ever again to be their companion. My next partner will be my choice, not someone who got to pick last. My life is in transition right now, so it's not even something that I can really focus on. I don't feel accomplished yet. I am proud of who I've been so far though, with some reservations (everyone screws up sometimes). I try to be fair, nice, and loving to everyone I know or meet. I try to be the person that my parents want me to be. Of course, I've had plenty of failures to do so, but I still try to fulfill that ideal everyday. My dad's been a marine for 26 years and has been a great role model to look up to. He's been extremely caring and helpful despite a ridiculously busy work schedule. I hope to be half the family man that he has been to me and my siblings. I'm still young and trying to set myself up to accomplish things in the future that I can be proud of. I try to do as much community service as a busy college schedule and social life allows. I might join the marine corps after I finish up at school for four years. I know a lot of people here might not think that's such an admirable endeavor, but I have my own reasons for wanting to do it and I think it will be something that I look back on with pride. I want to help fix the messes we've made in Afghanistan and elsewhere and I consider myself a strong enough person to protect people that can't protect themselves. I don't consider myself conservative. Hell, I don't even consider myself a moderate on a lot of issues. It will be an apolitical decision if I decide to do so. On the good side: Considering the extremely poor upbringing I had, I'm more healthy and well adjusted than one would probably expect. I've had a small handful of beautiful (and unforgettable) experiences in life.
On the bad side: I work so hard I literally work the skin off my fingers - and even after working that hard, I still can't seem to get a head. I'm turning 36 this week and still living paycheck to paycheck. Thats not a very positive realization to have on the week of your birthday. Hmm. I know I've accomplished more academically and professionally at the young age of 24 than most are able to do in their entire lives - got a Bachelor's and Master's from arguably the best school in the world, work in a job I enjoy for an elite group in one of the top funds in the world, have a great apartment, good friends, a great girlfriend... hell, I've even got an Erdős number of 4!
Still, it's hard to be proud, since I don't feel as if I've ever had to struggle for any of that. As superficial as it may seem, I am proud of being healthy and in-shape more than the arguably more important, yet easier, other things in my life. Especially coming out of a very unhealthy adolescence, I can look at that, see the struggle, and be proud of the effort it took to overcome it. That fact really cuts down into the psyche on what it takes to be proud, and shows that pride is much more a function of the journey than of the outcome.
