Fuck Yeah, Tiny Victories
Fuck yeah
tiny victories
like taking out the trash
before it turns into a separate ecosystem
in the hall
Like texting back that one friend
you have been low-key ghosting
because your brain turned simple replies
into a wall
Like getting dressed in real pants
and walking to the corner store
instead of scrolling till you crawl
You text me a picture of your sink
not exactly sexy
just a couple plates washed
a fork
a glass
a sponge sitting proud on the side
Caption says
“I know it’s dumb
but I got out of bed
cleaned these
took a shower
and did not cry in the water this time”
I grin at my screen
bigger than any graduation announcement
ever managed to pull from my face
Because I know what it cost
to lift that plate
to twist that faucet
to stand up
without slipping back
into that bed’s embrace
You send me a screenshot
of an email you finally answered
after weeks of letting it sit there
like a ghost in your inbox
Write “I did the scary adult thing
hit send
did not die
my heart is still beating
even though my brain yelled this sucks”
Later you tell me
you went outside
just long enough to feel the wind on your face
no big outing
no productivity award
just three minutes on the stoop
counting breaths
while your inner critic droned bored
The world throws confetti
for promotions and weddings
and new cars and shiny finished goals
Nobody throws a party for
“took my meds three days in a row
ate breakfast
did not collapse in old holes”
But I see those quiet wins
stacking up like tiny stones
on the side of the road
for tired souls
We keep a shared list in our chat
of dumb things we are proud of
You wrote
“today I washed my sheets, no lie”
I wrote
“I called the doctor
I have been avoiding for six months
and did not hang up when they picked up
even though I wanted to fly”
We react to each other’s updates
with fireworks emojis
and screaming faces
like we just won gold
Because in our house
staying alive
and handling basic self care
counts as giant courage
not some background thing
People can keep their inspirational posters
about climbing mountains
and hustling hard and never quit
Our gospel is
“you got out of bed
when your brain told you not to bother
and you told it to eat shit”
One day all these little wins
will blur into a bigger picture
where you look back and think
“damn, I climbed a whole hill”
Not with one giant leap
but with a thousand small stubborn steps
taken when your energy
was near nil
Till then I will keep cheering
every dish
every shower
every email
every pill
Because celebrating survival
in all its basic boring glory
is my favorite kind of thrill